President Donald Trump says the US will “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not open before a 48-hour deadline.
By Nathan Morley
President Donald Trump warned the United States will “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened within 48 hours. Iran responded by threatening to target all U.S.-linked energy infrastructure in the Middle East if its facilities come under attack.
According to the semi‑official Mehr news agency, Iran’s representative to the U.N. International Maritime Organization said the strait remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to what he called “Iran’s enemies.”
Damage and debris in the city of Arad after yesterday night’s Iranian ballistic missile attacks. (ANSA)
In Israel, emergency services said more than 100 people were injured after strikes in the south of the country. The apparent target was a nuclear facility near the city of Dimona.
Separately, one person was killed when a fire engulfed two vehicles in northern Israel following reported strikes from Lebanon.Israel said it carried out a wave of overnight strikes on Tehran. Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates said they intercepted drone and missile attacks.
Meanwhile, British media reported an attempted Iranian strike on the joint U.K.-U.S. base on Diego Garcia late Thursday into Friday. However, U.K. Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Britain would not be drawn into a wider conflict.
Smoke rises from the Lebanese border town of Al Khayam following an Israeli strike as seen from Kibbutz Dan, in the Upper Galilee, northern Israel (ANSA)
Earlier, the head of the Iranian Red Crescent Society accused the United States and Israel of attacking more than 80,000 civilian locations since the start of their campaign.
According to the organization, 12 medical staff have been killed and more than 90 injured. The organisation says hundreds of civilians, including children and 231 women, have been killed since the conflict began.
In late February, Israel and the United States launched joint attacks on Tehran and several other Iranian cities, killing former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, senior commanders and civilians.
Iran responded with waves of missile and drone strikes targeting Israel and U.S. bases across the region.
