Airstrikes hit key infrastructure while Iran mobilizes civilians and warns of wider regional escalation ahead of U.S. deadline.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
The United States carried out military strikes Tuesday targeting infrastructure in Iran, as tensions escalated sharply following a deadline set by Donald Trump demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
A U.S. official told Reuters that strikes focused on Kharg Island and additional infrastructure, including two bridges and a train station. The official said oil facilities were not targeted in an effort to avoid further disruption to global energy markets.
The military action came hours before Trump’s self-imposed 8 p.m. Eastern deadline for Tehran to restore full maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route that carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply. In a Truth Social post, Trump warned of severe consequences if the demand was not met.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote. “However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.”
He added that decades of “extortion, corruption, and death” could come to an end, concluding, “God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
Airstrikes were reported across Tehran, including in residential areas, with Iranian media citing dozens of fatalities. Additional strikes were reported in multiple regions, including western Iran and areas northwest of the capital. Iranian officials said at least 18 people were killed in one strike in Alborz province, while separate attacks in Shahriar and Pardis resulted in additional casualties.
In response to the threat of further U.S. action, Iranian authorities called on civilians to form protective human chains around critical infrastructure, including power plants. Alireza Rahimi, identified by state television as secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, urged participation, describing the facilities as “national assets and capital.”
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that 14 million people had volunteered to defend the country following appeals through state media and messaging campaigns. “I too have been, am, and will remain ready to give my life for Iran,” he wrote in a public statement.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that further U.S. strikes could trigger a broader regional response, stating Iran would “deprive the U.S. and its allies of the region’s oil and gas for years” and expand military actions throughout the Gulf.
Iran also launched missile attacks targeting regional adversaries, including Saudi Arabia and Israel. Saudi authorities reported intercepting ballistic missiles, with debris falling near energy infrastructure. The incident prompted the temporary closure of the King Fahd Causeway, a key connection between Bahrain and the Arabian Peninsula.
In Israel, air raid alerts were triggered in multiple cities, including Tel Aviv and Eilat, following incoming missile reports.
International leaders raised concerns about the potential for further escalation. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot warned that attacks on civilian and energy infrastructure would violate international law and risk intensifying the conflict. “They would without doubt trigger a new phase of escalation, of reprisals, that would drag the region and the world economy into a vicious circle,” he said.
António Guterres also cautioned that strikes targeting civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law, according to statements from his office.
Despite the warnings, Trump dismissed concerns about potential legal implications, telling reporters he was “not at all” concerned about committing war crimes.
The conflict has already disrupted global energy markets. Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz and attacks on regional energy infrastructure have contributed to rising oil prices, with Brent crude exceeding $108 per barrel, representing a significant increase since hostilities began.
Diplomatic efforts to de-escalate the crisis remain ongoing. Officials involved in negotiations said indirect communications between Washington and Tehran were continuing, with mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey attempting to broker a compromise before the deadline. Iran has linked reopening the strait to sanctions relief, while U.S. officials have indicated a willingness to consider limited easing of restrictions, particularly in the energy sector.
As the deadline approached, uncertainty remained over whether a diplomatic resolution could be reached or whether further military escalation would follow.
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