Washington, United States. Iran warned it would strike energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on a threat to attack Iran’s electricity grid, raising concerns of widespread disruption in a region reliant on desalination for drinking water.
Trump sets deadline tied to Strait of Hormuz
Trump set a Monday deadline of around 7:45 p.m. EDT (2345 GMT), warning late on Saturday that the United States would strike Iran’s power plants unless Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Oil markets unsettled by risk to civilian infrastructure
The prospect of tit-for-tat strikes on civilian infrastructure further unsettled oil markets, with prices opening choppy in Asia trading.
Strikes and alerts reported in Israel and Iran
After more than three weeks of heavy U.S. and Israeli bombardment that officials say has sharply reduced Iran’s missile capabilities, Tehran has continued to demonstrate its ability to strike back.
Air raid sirens sounded across parts of northern and central Israel, including in Tel Aviv, and the occupied West Bank overnight on Sunday, warning of incoming missiles from Iran.
The Israeli military said early Monday it had begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian infrastructure in Tehran.
Iranian news agencies said at least one child was killed and several people were injured in the bombing of a residential area in western Khorramabad city.
A residential neighbourhood in the northwestern city of Urmia was damaged by an air strike, Iranian news agencies reported. Iranian Red Crescent rescuers were shown in a video searching for survivors, and there were no immediate reports of casualties.
Iran threatens retaliation against regional facilities
Trump’s warning came less than a day after he signalled the United States might be considering winding down the conflict, even as U.S. Marines and heavy landing craft were heading to the region.
“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy infrastructure, as well as information technology…and water desalination facilities, belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted pursuant to previous warnings,” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said, according to state media.
How could threats to desalination facilities affect daily life for people living across the Gulf?
