Iran Threatens Retaliation for Attacks on Infrastructure | Strait of Hormuz

Iran’s military operational command warned Sunday it will target energy and desalination infrastructure in the United States and its regional allies if President Donald Trump orders strikes against Iranian power plants, according to a statement carried by Iran’s Tasnim news agency.

The warning follows a 48-hour ultimatum issued by President Trump on Saturday, demanding Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face military action. Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, starting with the largest, in a post on his Truth Social platform. The ultimatum began Saturday evening from Mar-a-Lago, according to reports.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supplies, has been severely restricted since the outbreak of conflict last month, with Iran enacting a de facto blockade. Approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil flows through the strait, and its closure has already driven oil prices above $100 a barrel, with diesel prices exceeding $5 a gallon, according to analysts.

An Iranian official, Ali Mousavi, Iran’s representative to the UN’s International Maritime Organization, stated Sunday that the strait is open to vessels from countries deemed “friendly,” including China, India, and Pakistan, but remains closed to ships from the US, Israel, and their allies. Mousavi attributed the restrictions to “US-Israeli aggression,” according to Iran’s Mehr news agency.

The United States is reportedly considering plans to occupy or blockade Kharg Island, a strategically important Iranian island, in an effort to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Such a move would represent a significant escalation in the ongoing conflict, according to sources.

President Trump has publicly criticized NATO allies for declining to assist in securing the waterway, labeling them “cowardly” on Friday. He as well downplayed the strategic importance of the strait, claiming it would eventually “open itself,” and dismissed concerns about rising fuel costs, stating they were a “very minor price to pay” for global security.

The Iranian military statement Sunday reiterated its willingness to respond in kind to any attack on its infrastructure. It specifically mentioned targeting energy, information technology, and desalination facilities belonging to the US and its allies in the region.