The Strait of Hormuz has become the center of escalating tensions as the United States issued a 48-hour deadline for it to reopen, with President Donald Trump warning that Iran’s power plants could face strikes if shipping does not resume. Tehran responded with strong threats, stating that energy and oil facilities across the Gulf would be considered legitimate targets if its power infrastructure were attacked.
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf emphasized that critical infrastructure across the region, including energy and oil facilities, would be targeted in retaliation. The warning came shortly after Trump’s statement that the US could “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the strait remained blocked. The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic waterway that handles roughly 20 percent of global oil and gas shipments.
Officials in Iran insisted they still control access to the strait. Envoy Ali Mousavi told state media that vessels could pass if coordinated with Tehran, noting that the closure only applies to what Iran considers hostile actors.
The region has seen continuous missile and drone exchanges. Israel reported that Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles since the start of the conflict, with an interception rate of 92 percent. Strikes in the southern cities of Arad and Dimona left nearly 180 people needing medical attention, in areas close to Israel’s nuclear research facilities.
Israel has carried out targeted assassinations of Iranian nuclear scientists over the last two decades and air strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, including Natanz. Iranian retaliatory strikes have focused on these facilities. Emergency services reported more than 160 injuries from the attacks, though the full toll remains unclear due to strict government censorship.
Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu visited Arad, warning residents to stay alert and seek shelter during missile alerts. “Do not be complacent,” he said, underlining the ongoing risk.
In the wider Gulf region, air defence systems intercepted multiple drone and missile attacks. The United Arab Emirates said it shot down four ballistic missiles and 25 drones in one day. Bahrain reported 145 missile interceptions since the conflict began, and Saudi Arabia intercepted dozens of drones targeting its eastern region.
Maritime security fears grew after a blast near a cargo vessel off the UAE coast. The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations reported that the crew was safe and investigations were underway.
The conflict has also disrupted global energy markets. Iranian officials noted that the closure of the strait has halted the daily passage of about 21 million barrels of oil. The Iranian Red Crescent reported that over 81,000 civilian structures, including hospitals and schools, have been damaged, while a three-week-long internet blackout has limited communication across the country.
Diplomatic efforts continue despite rising tensions. Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan met with officials from Iran, Egypt, the United States, and the European Union to explore measures to de-escalate the situation, according to Turkish sources cited by Reuters.
The World Health Organization warned that attacks near nuclear sites in Iran and Israel have brought the conflict to a “perilous stage.” Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said strikes on such facilities pose serious risks to public health and the environment.
