Washington, United States. President Donald Trump threatened on Saturday to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The warning marked an escalation a day after he spoke about “winding down” the war.
Trump’s ultimatum
Trump issued the threat on social media, saying: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
The ultimatum would expand the scope of U.S. strikes to infrastructure that affects daily civilian life in Iran.
Strait of Hormuz disruption and energy market impact
The threat of Iranian attacks has kept most ships from moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway that serves as the conduit for around a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, raising concerns about a global energy shock.
The near-closure sent European gas prices surging as much as 35% last week.
Iran’s warning on regional infrastructure
Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters said Sunday that if the United States attacks Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure, Iran would target all U.S. energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure in the region.
Escalation involving Gulf energy facilities
Energy prices spiked last week after Iran responded to an Israeli attack on its major gas field by hitting Qatar’s Ras Laffan Industrial City, which processes around a fifth of the world’s liquefied natural gas.
The strike caused damage that will take years to repair, and threats to Gulf infrastructure came as the conflict entered what was described as dangerous new territory.
Israeli claims of Iranian long-range missile use
Israeli officials said Iranian forces had for the first time fired long-range missiles, expanding the risk of attacks beyond the Middle East, even as an Iranian strike injured dozens of people not far from Israel’s nuclear site.
Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir said Iran launched two ballistic missiles with a range of 4,000 km (2,500 miles) at the U.S.-British military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, and the Israeli military said it was the first time Iran had used long-range missiles since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28.
“These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitals – Berlin, Paris, and Rome are all within direct threat range,” Zamir said in a statement on Saturday.
How do you think further disruption in the Strait of Hormuz could affect global energy prices?