Iran, Israel trade blows as Trump threatens to obliterate Iranian power plants
發佈日期: 2026-03-22 20:12
TVB News
As the war with Iran is now in its fourth week, US President Donald Trump threatened to hit and obliterate various Iranian power plants if the country did not open the Strait of Hormuz in 48 hours.
The ultimatum came barely a day after he spoke about "winding down" the US's offensive.
This as Iran launched a new wave of missile attacks on cities in southern Israel, injuring dozens of people.
In a social media post, Donald Trump stated that the US would take out Iran's energy facilities - starting with the biggest one first - if freedom of navigation is not fully restored at the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
The strait carries around one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies.
Tehran has effectively closed the choking point following the outbreak of the war, which sent global oil prices skyrocketing, but claims the strait remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to "Iran's enemies."
In response to the post, Iran's armed forces on Sunday pledged to target the US and its allies' critical infrastructure including energy facilities, IT system and desalination plants in the Gulf if Trump carried out his threat.
Admiral Brad Cooper, head of the US Central Command, gave update on the Operation Epic Fury, noting the US troops remain on plan to "eliminate" Iran's ability to project meaningful power outside its borders.
He said: "My operational assessment continues to be Iran's combat capability is on a steady decline as our offensive strikes ramp up...We not only took out the facility, but also destroyed intelligence support sites and missile radar relays that were used to monitor ship movements."
"Iran's ability to threaten freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz is degraded as a result, and we will not stop pursuing these targets."
The death toll in Iran has topped 1,300 people so far since the US and Israel launched joint military campaign in the region.
A hospital and tourist site in southwestern Khuzestan province bordering Iraq have been pounded in their attacks, killing at least one child.
The civilian port of Bushehr was also targeted by US-Israeli fire, causing significant damage to the facilities and to passenger vessels. Video footage showed flames and smoke rising from the site on Saturday.
An official Iranian news agency reported that the Natanz nuclear enrichment facility was shattered in an airstrike earlier Saturday but there was no radiation leakage.
On Saturday night, Tehran struck two communities in southern Israel not far from Israel's main nuclear research centre, marking the first time that Iranian missiles penetrated Israel's air defense systems in the area.
About 70 people were left with injuries in the city of Arad where at least 10 apartment buildings were damaged. Rescue teams were conducting searches in the buildings to determine if there are additional victims.
In the remote desert city of Dimona, authorities say more than two dozen people were lightly injured.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted it was a "very difficult evening in the campaign" for their future.
Iran's Parliament Speaker signalled on social media that the Israeli regime is operationally entering a new phase of the battle if it's unable to intercept missiles in the heavily protected Dimona area.
