US, Iran trade threats to ‘destroy’ Middle East infrastructure

Iran on Sunday threatened to “irreversibly destroy” key infrastructure across the Middle East if US President Donald Trump follows through on his warning to “obliterate” Iranian power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz is reopened.
The escalation comes as the war entered its fourth week, raising alarm across the region, particularly over strikes near nuclear-related sites.
Trump, facing pressure over rising fuel prices, issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to reopen the vital shipping route, warning that the US would “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, starting with the largest.
In response, Iran warned that any such attack would lead to strikes on US-linked energy, IT and desalination infrastructure across the region. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf said such targets would be “irreversibly destroyed” and warned of prolonged spikes in global oil prices.
Iran also said recent US-Israeli strikes had already caused heavy damage to its energy and water infrastructure, with “dozens” of facilities hit.
Tensions escalated further after Iranian missiles struck two southern Israeli towns, including Dimona, injuring dozens. The town houses a nuclear facility widely believed to be part of Israel’s undeclared nuclear arsenal.
“We thought we were safe,” a resident said after the strike.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to personally pursue commanders of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, while inspecting damage in Arad, another town hit.
Despite claims by the US and Israel that Iran’s capabilities had been weakened, the attacks indicated that Tehran retains significant strike capacity. Israel’s military said Iran has fired over 400 ballistic missiles since February 28, with about 92 percent intercepted.
Iran said the Dimona strike was in retaliation for an earlier attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, although Israel said it was “not aware” of such a strike.
The situation has raised global concern. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that the conflict had reached a “perilous stage” and urged all sides to exercise restraint to avoid nuclear risks. He said the International Atomic Energy Agency was assessing the situation and reported no abnormal radiation levels so far.
Meanwhile, focus has shifted to the Strait of Hormuz, which handles around a fifth of global oil and gas shipments. The blockade has rattled markets, with Brent crude rising above $105 per barrel, fuelling inflation concerns.
Trump criticised NATO allies and urged them to secure the route, as additional US Marines were deployed to the region.
On Saturday, 22 countries expressed readiness to help ensure safe passage through the waterway.
TotalEnergies CEO Patrick Pouyanné warned that prolonged conflict could severely impact the global economy, saying extended disruption would damage economies worldwide.