Iranian officers and state media have vowed retaliation throughout the area if US President Donald Trump carries out a risk to bomb Iran’s power plants.
Trump mentioned Saturday he would order the bombardment if the Strait of Hormuz was not totally open to transport inside 48 hours.
On Friday, the US president mentioned American operations within the Middle East have been starting to wind down, however his subsequent warnings and Iran’s response recommend extra civilian amenities throughout the area could possibly be focused within the week forward.
Critical infrastructure and power amenities within the Middle East might be “irreversibly destroyed” ought to Iranian power plants be focused, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf mentioned in feedback posted on X on Sunday. Qalibaf mentioned regional infrastructure would change into “legitimate targets” ought to Iran’s amenities be hit, and that its retaliation would enhance the worth of oil for a protracted whereas.
Iran’s semi-official Mehr News printed a map of power plants within the Gulf, warning: “Say goodbye to electricity,” ought to Trump perform his risk. “In the event of even the smallest attack on Iran’s electrical infrastructure, the entire region will be plunged into darkness … 70% to 80% of major power plants are along the Persian Gulf coast … all within Iran’s deterrence range,” it mentioned.
The Nournews Agency, affiliated with Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, mentioned Trump’s risk was not a show of energy however uncovered US vulnerabilities regardless of its claims of power independence.
“Any escalation would trigger Iran’s multi-layered retaliation, targeting regional assets and causing broader economic, social, and environmental crises,” it mentioned.
In one other instance of the defiant rhetoric coming from Tehran, the commander of Iran’s armed forces headquarters mentioned: “The doctrine of our armed forces has changed from defensive to offensive. New surprises are on the way.”