Donald Trump has started a countdown for the US to “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the country fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.In a late-night post to his Truth Social platform, Mr Trump declared a 48-hour countdown had begun “from this exact point in time” – 11.45pm on Saturday night, UK time.”If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” he said.The President did not elaborate on which power station he defined as Iran’s biggest.The country boasts 400 power plants – one of which is nuclear, the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant on its south coast, 750 miles south of Tehran.Its largest fossil fuel-powered plant is said to be the Shaheed Salimi Neka Combined Power Plant, though the Karun-3 hydroelectric dam is thought to produce marginally more electricity.In response to the American threat, Iran promised to target all energy and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US in the region.Meanwhile, Tehran appears to have started strikes on cities near Israel’s own energy set-up.Donald Trump declared a 48-hour countdown had begun ‘from this exact point in time’ | GETTYLate on Saturday, Iranian missiles hit the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens of people, including children, in separate strikes.Israel’s secretive nuclear reactor is about 13 kilometres southeast of Dimona, while both it and Arad lie near several military sites, including Nevatim Air Base, one of Israel’s largest.Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed they targeted “military installations” and security facilities in the region.Israel branded the attack a “blatant war crime” and “pure terrorism”.”This has been a very difficult evening in the battle for our future,” Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said in a statement released by his office following the strike on Arad.
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Iranian missiles hit the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad – which Israel branded ‘pure terrorism’ | ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY”We are determined to continue striking our enemies on all fronts,” the statement said.Earlier on Saturday night, Mr Trump revealed that Iran wanted to make a deal with the US after three weeks of war.”Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defence, and they want to make a deal,” he said.”I don’t! We are weeks ahead of schedule,” he added.But his later threat came as a direct appeal over the Strait of Hormuz.MAPPED: Where is the Strait of Hormuz? | GB NEWSIran has blocked the waterway – one of the world’s busiest oil shipping channels – since the start of “Operation Epic Fury” on February 28.The 30-mile-wide strait is the only sea passage between the Gulf and the Arabian Sea.Around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) passes through the strait, both from Iran and other Gulf states like Iraq, Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – all of which have been attacked by Iran.In peacetime, some 3,000 ships would sail through the strait every month – which has almost entirely fallen since Iran began attacking vessels.At least 21 ships have been hit, targeted, or have reported attacks, since the start of the war.