Trump has threatened to destroy Iran's power stations if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours
Iran says the strait is open to the US and Israel, and warns that it will attack energy infrastructure, salt removal plants and US information technology centers in the region if it fulfils its threat.
The escalation of tension in the Middle East has entered a new phase following the ultimatum of US President Donald Trump, who has threatened Iran to attack its energy infrastructure if it does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. In a message broadcast through Social Truth, the president has warned that Washington is prepared to destroy Iran's nuclear power plants, starting with the larger ones, in response to attacks on ships on that strategic maritime runway.
The headofthe White House has just said that has "wiped Iran off the map" to counter the views of analysts who question the actual impact of the offensive launched with Israel on February 28. Trump has insisted that he has no intention of a ceasefire because the priority is to maintain pressure until he dominates Tehran.
In this context, he presented the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz as a "simple" operation from a military point of view, but suggested that it would require international assistance, and mentioned NATO in this regard.
In response to these threats, Iran has responded with a strong message. The Iranian authorities say that the Strait of Hormuz is open to international maritime traffic, but they have made it clear that the US and Israel are excluded from this guarantee. The Iranian representative, Ali Musaví, has stressed that navigation is possible if it is coordinated with Tehran in security matters, while holding Washington and Tel Aviv responsible for the current crisis in the region.
At the same time, Iran's response has received an explicit counter-attack. The Islamic Republic Army has indicated that if it attacks its electrical installations, it will hit the US energy infrastructure in the region, as well as salt removal plants and information technology centers.
Israel also witnesses the escalation of tension. The local army has confirmed that some Iranian missiles hit the centre of the country. They have deployed emergency teams in the affected areas.
Along with these attacks, other missiles have hit Dimona and Arad (southern Israel), leaving some 120 injured and causing great concern. In response, Israeli forces launched another wave of bombings in Tehran.
At the same time, in northern Israel, an attack by Hezbollah from Lebanon hit a vehicle in the border town of Misgav Am and killed a man.
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