Trump warns of Iran's infrastructure demolition as strikes intensify
Day 39 of US-Israeli strikes against Iran marks a dangerous escalation. President Donald Trump set a strict deadline, warning of the "complete demolition" of Iran's key infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz does not reopen by Tuesday evening. He called Tehran's response to a ceasefire proposal "significant" but ultimately "not good enough." Iranian media dismissed these threats as "delusional," claiming they cannot hide the "disgrace and humiliation" inflicted upon the region.
Attacks across Iran intensified as US and Israeli forces targeted universities and oil facilities. Iranian missiles and drones continue to strike sites throughout the Gulf. Israel's military confirmed strikes on three Tehran airports, hitting several Iranian planes and helicopters. It also claimed to have hit Iran's largest petrochemical complex, which serves the massive South Pars gasfield.
The International Atomic Energy Agency chief warned that attacks near the Bushehr atomic power plant "pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop." Iran stated an Israeli dawn strike killed intelligence chief Major-General Majid Khademi. Two electricity units for the South Pars gasfield also faced recent strikes. Iranian officials view this as a "huge escalation" intended to destroy the survival capabilities of the Iranian people.
Trump's ultimatum threatens the destruction of Iran's power plants and bridges by Wednesday if the Strait remains closed. Experts note that targeting civilian infrastructure constitutes a war crime. Iran rejected the temporary ceasefire proposal, arguing it allows US and Israel to regroup. Citing past violations in Gaza and Lebanon, Tehran offered a 10-point plan for a permanent end to the war. Tehran also demands lifting sanctions, a compromise on uranium enrichment, and a new order in the Strait of Hormuz.
A third Turkish-owned ship passed through the war-torn Strait of Hormuz, Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu said. South Korea will send five ships to Yanbu to create alternative oil routes away from the Strait. Global fuel price shocks prompted Chinese President Xi Jinping to call for accelerating a new energy system.
Reports indicate an Iranian drone strike wounded 15 Americans at the Ali al-Salem airbase in Kuwait. Saudi Arabia's air defences intercepted at least 18 drones over the past few hours. The Ministry of Defence confirmed all drones were destroyed. Earlier, the kingdom reported intercepting up to seven ballistic missiles over its Eastern province, with debris falling near critical energy facilities. Bahrain closed an important bridge linking it to Saudi Arabia indefinitely due to fears of Iranian attacks.
The authority managing the King Fahd Causeway announced on X that vehicular movement across the structure has been halted as a precautionary response to Iranian strikes against Saudi Arabia's Eastern Province. Simultaneously, the United Arab Emirates Ministry of Defence confirmed that its air defense systems successfully intercepted incoming missiles and drones launched from Iran.
In the United States, President Trump and senior administration officials disclosed extensive details regarding the high-stakes operation to retrieve two airmen following the downing of their aircraft over Iranian airspace. The mission reportedly involved a massive coalition effort comprising more than 170 aircraft and hundreds of soldiers. Following these disclosures, the President aggressively confronted a journalist who covered the rescue operation, demanding the identity of the source and issuing threats of incarceration. Meanwhile, Trita Parsi, a foreign policy expert speaking to Al Jazeera, suggested that President Trump might extend military deadlines if diplomatic avenues reopen, noting the President's recent history of doing so. Parsi argues that the administration faces little political cost for doing so and may eventually settle for a new status quo in the Strait of Hormuz, potentially including Iranian transit fees. Concurrently, the US Central Command stated that its forces have struck over 13,000 targets within Iran.
Violence has escalated significantly in the region, with an Iranian missile striking a residential building in Haifa, Israel, killing at least four people. The humanitarian crisis in Lebanon continues to deepen as Israel's bombardment and ground invasion expand beyond predominantly Shia areas to include Ain Saadeh, a Christian suburb east of Beirut. Recent Israeli air attacks in southern Lebanon resulted in five deaths and numerous injuries, according to the country's National News Agency. In Beirut itself, two US-made GBU-39 bombs struck a residential building, claiming three lives. The United Nations reports that over 1.1 million people in Lebanon are now registered as displaced persons as the ground invasion persists in the south.
The threat also extends to Iraq, where local authorities reported that a drone originating from Iran crashed into a home in the Kurdish region of the north, killing a couple. Separately, two explosions were detected near Erbil airport, underscoring the volatile security environment. These events highlight the fragile nature of regional stability and the profound risks posed to civilian populations caught in the crossfire of escalating military confrontations.