Iran issues 48-hour ultimatum to ‘destroy’ Iran’s power plants after missiles attack Israeli nuclear city
The war in Western Asia entered its 23rd day, with heavy Iranian missile bombardment of two cities in southern Israel, one of which houses a nuclear facility. More than 150 people were injured in the attacks, which came just hours after US President Donald Trump threatened to attack Iran’s power plants unless Tehran lifts its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz.
Iranian missiles hit the Israeli city of Dimona, one of Israel’s major nuclear facilities, and nearby Arad. 84 people were injured in the attack in Arad alone; Magen David Adom, Israel time, said so.
The Iranian bombing comes a day after the US and Israel attacked Tehran’s Natanz nuclear facility for the second time in their ongoing war. A 12-year-old boy, struck by shrapnel, was among the seriously injured in Dimona. A 5-year-old girl was injured in the following attacks in Arad.
Following the attacks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Israeli Defence Forces Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir vowed to continue fighting Israel’s enemies on “all fronts”.
US-Israel-Iran war news live updates
Trump’s threat
Earlier on Sunday, Trump vowed to “destroy” Iranian nuclear power plants unless Tehran lifts the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours without the White House issuing a threat.
Iran blocked the strait, which serves as a transit route for a fifth of global energy supplies, after the war began, causing fuel prices to rise around the world.
“If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz, without any threat, within 48 hours from this exact time, the United States will attack and destroy their various power plants, beginning with the largest,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
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Following Trump’s statement, Khatam al-Anbiya, head of the Iranian military’s operational command, said Tehran would retaliate with an attack on “all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure related to the US and the regime in the region”, Fars news agency reported.
America is considering deployment
Trump’s threat contrasts with his statement on Saturday when he said the US was “winding down” its campaign against the Islamic Republic and that Washington was getting “very close” to achieving its military objectives.
However, later that day, reports emerged that the White House was considering a plan to seize nuclear material, Tehran was occupied, and the Pentagon was preparing strategies for the possible deployment of US ground forces in Iran.
Hours before the statement, the US had increased its deployment in the Gulf, sending a 2,500-strong Marine unit and naval assets. on friday, axios The Trump administration was reported to be considering annexing or blockading Iran’s Kharg Island, which handles 90% of the country’s crude oil exports.
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3 missiles detected in Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Defence Ministry said three ballistic missiles had been detected near Riyadh. According to its statement, one missile was intercepted while the other two fell in a deserted area.
Saudi Arabia, which has US bases and is aligned with Washington, has seen its energy sector repeatedly targeted by Iranian drone and missile attacks during the current conflict.
Earlier, the Ras Tanura oil refinery, the largest of its kind in West Asia, was targeted, and the US Embassy in the country suspended operations following the Iranian attacks.
Amid the blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, Riyadh was shipping its fuel to the Red Sea terminal of Yanbu, which was also attacked on Thursday. The terminal can pump up to 7 million bpd.
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Explosion near bulk carrier off the coast of UAE
An unidentified projectile caused an explosion “near” a bulk carrier off the central northern coast of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) said early Sunday.
The agency said it had received reports of an incident 15 nmi (nautical miles) north of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, adding that all its crew members were reported safe.
