The President of the United States, Donald Trump, on Saturday issued a strict 48-hour warning to Iran, demanding that the country immediately reopen the vital shipping route known as the Strait of Hormuz or risk having its energy infrastructure destroyed. The warning came at the same time that Tehran carried out one of its most damaging military attacks against Israel since the conflict began. The strong ultimatum was delivered only a day after the US leader suggested that he might consider reducing military activity following nearly three weeks of intense fighting in the region. However, tensions rose again as the crucial oil transit corridor remained practically shut, while additional American Marines were reportedly being deployed toward the Middle East to strengthen US presence. Posting on the social media platform Truth Social, Trump declared that the United States would strike Iranian power facilities if the strait was not fully reopened within the stated deadline. He warned that the operation would begin with the largest energy installation first, emphasizing that the action would be swift and overwhelming if Iran failed to comply before the deadline, which he indicated would expire late Monday according to the timestamp of his message. Iran’s Foreign Minister, Abbas Araghchi, responded by stating that restrictions in the waterway were only applied to ships belonging to countries involved in military actions against Iran. He added that vessels from nations that remained neutral in the conflict would continue to receive assistance and safe passage. Following the American warning, Iran’s military released a statement through the Fars news agency saying that any attack on Iranian infrastructure would result in retaliation against energy facilities and desalination plants connected to the United States and its allies in the region. The warning from Washington came shortly after two Iranian missiles struck southern parts of Israel, leaving more than one hundred people injured in what officials described as the most destructive assault since the war started. Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, immediately promised a response on every front, signaling that further escalation was likely. Reports indicated that the missiles managed to bypass Israel’s defense systems, causing severe damage to residential structures and leaving large craters in the affected areas. Emergency services confirmed that dozens of civilians were injured in the town of Arad, with several in serious condition. Earlier in the day, additional casualties were reported in Dimona, where footage showed extensive destruction, including debris, damaged buildings, and twisted metal scattered across the impact site. Dimona is widely believed to host Israel’s only nuclear-related facility, although the country has never officially confirmed possessing nuclear weapons. Military officials later confirmed that one of the missiles directly struck a building in the area, causing injuries at several locations, including a young boy who suffered serious wounds from shrapnel. Rescue workers continued searching through the ruins of damaged buildings as the situation remained tense. Netanyahu described the evening as extremely difficult and later confirmed that Israeli forces had launched new airstrikes targeting locations in Tehran. Iran claimed that the strike near Dimona was retaliation for earlier attacks on its nuclear facility in Natanz. The country’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, also known as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said its forces also targeted additional towns in southern Israel and military-related locations in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates. After the incident involving Natanz, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Rafael Grossi, repeated calls for restraint, warning that continued military action could increase the risk of a nuclear accident. The Natanz facility contains underground centrifuges used for uranium enrichment as part of Iran’s disputed nuclear program, and it had already suffered damage earlier in the conflict. Israel denied responsibility for the Natanz explosion but confirmed that it had carried out strikes on a research facility in Tehran that it claimed was linked to the development of components for ballistic missiles. Rising tension around Hormuz The destruction seen in Israel followed weeks of heavy bombardment carried out by US and Israeli forces, which appeared to have had limited success in stopping Iran’s ability to launch missile and drone attacks throughout the region. Iran also attempted a long-range missile strike against the joint US-UK base on Diego Garcia, located thousands of kilometers away in the Indian Ocean. According to officials, the attack did not succeed, but it would have been the longest-range strike ever attempted by Iran if it had reached its target. The United Arab Emirates reported that it faced aerial threats after Iran warned regional countries not to allow attacks to be launched from their territory near the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s control of the waterway has significantly disrupted global oil transport, as the strait normally carries a large portion of the world’s crude oil supply. The situation caused oil prices to surge, with Brent crude rising above one hundred dollars per barrel, raising serious concerns about the global economy. Several world leaders released a joint statement condemning what they described as the effective closure of the strait. The statement, signed by multiple countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Australia, South Korea, Bahrain, and the UAE, expressed readiness to support efforts that would ensure safe navigation through the region. Trump also criticized some NATO allies, accusing them of not doing enough to secure the shipping route and urging them to take stronger action. Analysts note Iran’s endurance Security experts say Iran has shown unexpected resilience despite losing several senior leaders during the conflict. Analysts noted that the country’s ability to continue launching attacks suggests that its military capacity remains stronger than initially predicted. Researchers at the policy institute Chatham House said the situation demonstrated that Iran’s response capability had not been fully weakened and that the conflict could continue longer than expected. Meanwhile, people in Tehran marked the end of Ramadan while the war entered another week. Traditionally, the country’s supreme leader leads Eid prayers, but the current leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has not appeared in public since taking power after the death of his father,
U.S. President Donald Trump sharply criticized the NATO alliance on Friday, calling its member nations “cowards” over their stance on Iran, while new reports indicated that additional U.S. Marines are being sent to the Middle East, raising speculation about a potential ground operation nearly three weeks after the conflict began. According to officials, one possible strategic objective for the deployment could be Iran’s Kharg Island, a crucial oil export terminal. The White House stated that the United States has the capability to strike the facility at any moment should the president authorize such action. Reports from Axios suggested that the administration is reviewing options that include a blockade or direct occupation of the island as a way to pressure Tehran into reopening the vital Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for energy supplies. Trump intensified his criticism of the NATO military alliance, accusing member countries of failing to support his request for assistance in protecting the narrow maritime passage, which he says is partly responsible for the recent rise in global oil prices. Posting on his Truth Social platform, Trump wrote that NATO countries could easily assist without facing significant danger, but chose not to do so. He accused the alliance of refusing to participate in what he described as an effort to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear-armed power, adding that without the United States, NATO would lack real strength. Several major nations — including Britain, France, Germany, and Japan, whose prime minister met Trump at the White House on Thursday — have said they are willing to support appropriate international efforts, but none have formally committed to military involvement. Despite the tensions, Trump insisted that the joint U.S.–Israeli military campaign is progressing successfully. Speaking during an event at the White House where he presented a trophy to naval cadets, he said the operation was going extremely well and claimed the situation was not even competitive. He also stated that communication with Iran has become difficult following the deaths of several top officials, including the country’s former supreme leader, leaving few leaders available for negotiations. Rising oil prices have increased political pressure on the administration to bring the conflict to a close, as some Republicans fear that economic instability could negatively affect the party in the upcoming U.S. midterm elections. The Wall Street Journal reported that between 2,200 and 2,500 Marines from the California-based USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group and the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit are being positioned in the region. When asked about the report, the Marine Corps confirmed that both units are currently deployed at sea, while the U.S. Third Fleet described the activities as routine operations. Earlier reports also indicated that another group of approximately 2,500 Marines had already been sent to the Middle East aboard several naval vessels. Military analysts say Kharg Island could be a major target because it handles most of Iran’s crude oil exports. White House Principal Deputy Press Secretary Anna Kelly stated that the U.S. military has the ability to destroy the facility at any time if ordered by the president. She explained that the administration had prepared for multiple scenarios involving Iran and anticipated possible attempts to disrupt the free flow of energy through the Strait of Hormuz. According to her statement, U.S. forces have already taken action against more than 40 vessels believed to be involved in mine-laying operations. U.S. forces reportedly carried out strikes on Kharg Island on Friday, and Trump later said the attacks completely destroyed all military targets located there. Although the president previously said the United States had avoided damaging the island’s oil infrastructure, he warned that such action could be taken if Iran continues to interfere with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
