Iran's military command has threatened to target US and allied energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure in response to President Donald Trump's threat to destroy Iranian power plants. The statement from the Khatam Al-Anbiya operational command, carried by the Fars news agency, declared: "Following previous warnings, if Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted." This escalation highlights the deepening conflict in the Middle East, now entering its third week.
US President Donald Trump issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, demanding the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. On his Truth Social platform, he wrote: "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!" This threat came just a day after Trump allegedly stated he was considering "winding down" the military operation against Iran, revealing apparent strategic discord between Washington and its Israeli allies.
The Israeli military announced early Sunday that it had launched another wave of strikes against targets in the Iranian capital, Tehran. In a statement, it said forces were "currently conducting strikes on Iranian terror regime targets in the heart of Tehran." This announcement followed hours after Iranian missiles reportedly hit two Israeli towns near the country's main nuclear research facility, injuring scores of people, further illustrating the cycle of retaliation fueling the conflict.
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Defense said on Sunday that it had detected three ballistic missiles around the capital, Riyadh. A ministry spokesperson stated on social media: "One missile was intercepted, while the other two fell in an uninhabited area." The origin of the missiles was not specified, but Iran has previously targeted the kingdom as part of its retaliation against US and Israeli strikes. The ministry also reported that five drones had been detected since midnight, indicating persistent regional security threats.
Maritime traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz has largely ground to a halt due to Iran's threat to attack tankers in response to the ongoing US-Israeli military operation. Approximately one-fifth of the world's oil normally transits through this critical waterway. Desalination plants represent key infrastructure for Gulf states, providing vital fresh water for human consumption, agriculture, and industrial use, making them potential high-impact targets in the escalating confrontation.
Source: www.dw.com