Tensions in the Middle East have sharply intensified after US\nPresident Donald Trump threatened to destroy Iran\u2019s power plants, which\nwas immediately met with Tehran\u2019s threat of retaliatory attacks on vital\nUS infrastructure in the region.<\/p>\n
The escalation of the conflict in the Middle East has entered a new\nphase following Donald Trump\u2019s threat to \u2018obliterate\u2019 Iran\u2019s power\nplants if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened.<\/p>\n
Trump issued the threat via the Truth Social platform, giving a\n48-hour deadline regarding the de facto blockade imposed by Iran on this\nstrategic trade route.<\/p>\n
\u2018If Iran does not FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREATS, the Strait of Hormuz\nwithin 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States will\nstrike and obliterate various of their POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE\nLARGEST FIRST!\u2019, Trump wrote, as quoted by AFP.<\/p>\n
The statement provoked a strong response from Iran. Iran\u2019s military\noperational command asserted that if their facilities are attacked, then\n\u2018all US energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure\u2019\nin the region would become retaliatory targets.<\/p>\n
Tensions heightened after Iran launched retaliatory strikes against\nan attack on the Natanz nuclear site with two direct attacks on southern\nIsrael.<\/p>\n
The missile strikes reportedly penetrated air defence systems and hit\nthe cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring more than 100 people.<\/p>\n
Israel then responded by launching a new strike on Iran\u2019s capital,\nTehran, on Sunday local time.<\/p>\n
The situation in the Strait of Hormuz, which normally handles about\none-fifth of global crude oil trade, has further worsened conditions.\nNorth Sea Brent crude oil prices have surged above $105 per barrel, or\napproximately Rp1.77 million.<\/p>\n
Amid the tensions, Trump also criticised NATO allies as \u2018cowards\u2019 and\nurged them to secure the route.<\/p>\n
Several countries, including the UK, France, Italy, Germany, South\nKorea, Australia, the United Arab Emirates, and Bahrain, have condemned\nthe closure of the route.<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the US military is reported to have sent thousands more\nmarines to the region. The US Central Command also stated that it has\ndropped bunker-busting bombs on Iran\u2019s underground coastal\nfacilities.<\/p>\n
The impact of Iran\u2019s strikes in Israel is evident from damage in\nArad, which destroyed the front of buildings and left craters in the\nground.<\/p>\n
In Dimona, the strike landed about five kilometres from the site\nbelieved to be a nuclear weapons storage facility and injured around 30\npeople.<\/p>\n
Iran is also reported to have launched attacks on Gulf countries\nconsidered US operational bases. Saudi Arabia stated it intercepted\nthree ballistic missiles and three drones near Riyadh, while the United\nArab Emirates faced additional missile and drone attacks.<\/p>\n
Although Donald Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu claim to have weakened\nIran, analysts assess that Tehran continues to demonstrate\nresilience.<\/p>\n
\u2018They are showing a lot of resilience that we might not have\nexpected, which the US did not anticipate, in facing this,\u2019 said Neil\nQuilliam, an analyst from Chatham House.<\/p>\n
Amid the conflict that has entered its fourth week, residents of\nTehran continue to mark the end of Ramadan and the Persian New Year\ncelebration, Nowruz, despite underlying anxiety.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/trump-threatens-to-destroy-irans-power-plants-tehran-prepares-retaliatory-strike-1774169481", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }