President Donald Trump on Monday issued a new warning to Iran, saying its energy plants and oil wells would be “obliterated” if Tehran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning came after Iran dismissed U.S. peace proposals as “unrealistic” and launched missile attacks on Israel.
The conflict, which began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on February 28, has escalated across the region.
Israeli forces reported intercepting drones from Yemen and responding to missile attacks from Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
Israeli strikes targeted Iranian-backed military infrastructure in Tehran and Beirut, leaving smoke over the Lebanese capital.
A ballistic missile launched from Iran entered Turkish airspace but was shot down by NATO air and missile defenses, according to Turkey’s defense ministry.
Iranian officials, including Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei, rejected U.S. proposals delivered via intermediaries from Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Baghaei described the peace plan as “unrealistic, illogical, and excessive” and emphasized Iran’s focus on defending itself amid ongoing military aggression.
Shortly after, Trump stated on social media that the U.S. was engaging with a “more reasonable regime” to end the conflict but reiterated that failure to reopen the Strait of Hormuz would prompt attacks on Iran’s electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island.
He also threatened to target desalination plants that supply clean water.
Amid the standoff, Iran is reportedly reviewing a potential exit from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Meanwhile, U.S. troop deployments to the region continue, giving Washington the option of a ground offensive, though no action has been approved.
The war has disrupted energy markets, with Brent crude futures rising to $113.23 per barrel, and threatens broader regional and global economic stability.
The Houthis’ attacks on Israel also raised concerns about potential blockages at the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, another key shipping route.
The International Monetary Fund and G7 finance leaders have warned of the economic consequences of the conflict and pledged measures to safeguard energy markets and limit global fallout.
This escalation underscores the fragility of Middle East security and the rising tensions surrounding strategic waterways critical to global energy supplies.
