US–Israel war with Iran enters dangerous new phase Tehran warns of regional retaliation after Trump’s strike threat

The conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran entered a new phase of escalation after US President Donald Trump threatened to strike Iran’s power plants unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that American forces would “hit and obliterate” Iran’s power facilities, “starting with the biggest one,” if vessels are not allowed to pass through the strategic waterway, through which roughly one-fifth of global oil and gas supplies normally transit, Financial Times reports.

Iran responded by warning it would retaliate against vital infrastructure across the region, including energy facilities and water desalination plants, if such strikes are carried out.

The heightened rhetoric followed a major Iranian missile attack that penetrated Israeli air defences and struck the city of Dimona, near Israel’s nuclear research centre. A second salvo later hit the nearby town of Arad, severely damaging residential buildings. Israeli authorities said more than 150 people were wounded, eight seriously, marking one of the most significant attacks since the conflict began more than three weeks ago.

Israel’s military chief, Eyal Zamir, said the war, now entering its fourth week, is at its “halfway point” and would continue through the upcoming Passover holiday. Defence Minister Israel Katz added that the US and Israel would “intensify” and “significantly increase” their strikes on Iran in the coming week.

Analysts warn the conflict risks spiraling further. “Neither side has shown they are ready to climb off the escalation ladder and it could get far worse,” said Ali Vaez of the Crisis Group. “Going after infrastructure is going to result in scorched earth throughout the region with disastrous consequences.”

Iran said its strike on Dimona was in retaliation for attacks on its Natanz nuclear facility, underscoring a pattern of targeting similar strategic sites. Following Trump’s threat, senior Iranian officials reiterated that any attack on domestic infrastructure would trigger broader regional retaliation.

“Immediately after our country’s electricity and infrastructure are struck, we will consider vital infrastructure, as well as energy and oil facilities throughout the region, to be legitimate targets and will destroy them in an irreversible manner,” said Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in a post on X.

Despite sustained US and Israeli strikes, Iran has continued to demonstrate its capacity to launch missile and drone attacks across the region, including recent strikes on energy facilities in Qatar and a desalination plant in Bahrain.

The conflict has already disrupted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and contributed to surging oil prices, raising fears of a severe global energy crisis.

By Vafa Guliyeva