MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Iran threatens to destroy regional energy infrastructure after Trump's Hormuz ultimatum

Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Iran does not “fully open, without threat” the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the United States “will hit and obliterate their various power plants”

Iran warned on Sunday that it will treat energy and oil infrastructure across the Middle East as “legitimate targets” if the United States attacks its power plants, responding to President Donald Trump's ultimatum issued late Saturday.

Trump wrote on Truth Social that if Iran does not “fully open, without threat” the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the United States “will hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first.” The deadline would expire on Monday evening, US Eastern time.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf responded on X that “immediately after our power plants are attacked, vital energy and oil infrastructure across the region will be considered legitimate targets and will suffer irreversible destruction.” Ghalibaf added that such an escalation would “keep oil prices elevated for a long time.”

Iran's armed forces were more specific. Lieutenant Colonel Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesman for the Khatam Al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, which oversees military operations, warned that Tehran would strike “all energy infrastructure, as well as information technology facilities and water desalination plants” belonging to the United States in the region. The Iranian military added that the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely closed” indefinitely if Washington carries out its threat, according to AP.

The exchange of threats represents the most dangerous escalation of the conflict, now in its fourth week, over control of the strait, through which roughly 20% of the world's crude oil transits. Iran has kept the passage virtually closed since the US-Israeli offensive began in late February, allowing transit only for vessels from countries it does not consider enemies, subject to prior coordination with Tehran.

Trump's ultimatum marks a sharp reversal from his remarks on Friday, when he said he was considering “winding down” military operations and even suggested the war could end without resolving the Hormuz crisis. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent dismissed any suggestion of contradiction. “Sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate,” he told NBC News. Bessent also ruled out tax increases to fund the war, despite the Pentagon's request for $200 billion in additional funding.

The director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, told CBS on Sunday that he hopes to re-establish nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, though the outlook remains uncertain. Iran has said it sees no reason to negotiate with Washington while hostilities continue.