Tehran declares preparedness for all scenarios as U.S. and Israeli strikes intensify ahead of a looming ultimatum tied to the Strait of Hormuz.
By yourNEWS Media Newsroom
Iranian officials said Tuesday they are prepared for any outcome as President Donald Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if the country does not comply with a deadline tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The warning came as military activity escalated across the region, with Iranian authorities reporting that U.S. and Israeli forces had begun targeting key infrastructure. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that strikes focused on bridges and railway systems, which he said were being used by Iran’s Revolutionary Guard to transport materials.
Trump had previously stated that U.S. action would follow if no agreement was reached by the deadline, including potential strikes on infrastructure such as bridges and power facilities. In a Truth Social post, he wrote, “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
It remained unclear what specific actions the president was referencing or how such a warning would be carried out.
Speaking from Budapest, Vice President JD Vance said the United States possesses capabilities “that we so far haven’t decided to use,” without elaborating further. The White House later clarified that his remarks were not referring to nuclear options, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that “only the president knows where things stand and what he will do.”
Iran’s First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref said the country was prepared “for all scenarios,” adding, “No threat is beyond our preparedness and intelligence.”
Iranian officials reported multiple strikes on transportation infrastructure, including a bridge outside Qom and a rail bridge in central Iran that killed two people. Authorities also said a key highway linking Tabriz and Tehran had been shut down following an attack, while additional strikes were reported on railway lines near Karaj.
Earlier in the day, explosions were heard across Tehran, and Iranian media reported that 18 people, including two children, were killed in strikes in Alborz province.
The escalation follows the collapse of a proposed 45-day ceasefire plan, which both Washington and Tehran declined to accept.
International reaction intensified alongside the military developments. The United Nations human rights chief warned that “incendiary rhetoric” surrounding the conflict raised concerns about potential violations of international law, stating that deliberate attacks on civilian targets or infrastructure would constitute “a war crime.”
Pope Leo also condemned the rhetoric, calling threats against civilian populations “truly unacceptable” and describing the situation as both a legal and moral issue.
At the United Nations Security Council, Russia and China vetoed a resolution related to reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The proposal had already been revised to remove provisions that would have allowed the use of force to secure the waterway.
Iran has effectively restricted passage through the strait since the conflict began on Feb. 28, disrupting a route that carries a significant portion of global oil supply.
On the ground, residents described mounting fear. A university student identified only as Metanat said she felt “terrified and so should everyone else in the country,” adding that while “some people think they are a joke,” referring to Trump’s warnings, “death is not a joke.”
Others expressed uncertainty about the future. A 62-year-old pensioner, Morteza Hamidi, said he felt “gloomy for the future of the country after the war,” adding that he no longer reacts strongly to repeated warnings.
State media published images showing civilians forming human chains around infrastructure sites, including power plants, as the deadline approached.
Regional governments also took precautionary measures. Kuwait advised residents to remain indoors overnight, while Bahrain announced the suspension of port operations beginning early Wednesday.
Additional strikes were reported at Kharg Island, a central hub for Iran’s oil exports, though U.S. media indicated those attacks may have targeted military assets. Iranian outlets also reported the destruction of a synagogue in Tehran during a strike, with the Israeli military later stating it had been targeting a senior military figure and expressing regret over “collateral damage.”
Elsewhere, a petrochemical facility in Saudi Arabia’s Jubail industrial region was reportedly struck overnight, according to a witness account. Bahraini Foreign Minister Abdullatif bin Rashid Al Zayani warned that regional restraint “cannot be expected to continue without limit.”
On the Lebanese front, Israel said it had completed deployment of ground forces along a defensive line in the south, where it is engaged with Iran-backed Hezbollah. The military also issued warnings to vessels operating off Lebanon’s southern coast to move north of Tyre as operations continue.
As the deadline approached, both diplomatic efforts and military actions remained in motion, with uncertainty surrounding the next phase of the conflict.
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