Iran has threatened to strike key infrastructure in the Middle East in response to Donald Trump's ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, Agence France-Presse reported, BTA reported.
The American president warned on his social platform Truth Social that in the absence of a full and unconditional opening of this strategic waterway, which is essential for global supplies, the US will "strike and destroy" Iranian power plants, "starting with the largest".
Iran responded that if Washington carries out its threat, Iranian forces will attack "energy, information technology and water desalination infrastructure" in the region.
Earlier in the day, the Israeli military said it was carrying out strikes "in the heart of Tehran," without giving further details.
Iran launched two strikes in southern Israel yesterday. The first hit a residential area in Dimona, a city that hosts a strategic nuclear research center in the Negev desert. About 30 people were injured, one of them seriously. The second strike was on the city of Arad, where 84 people were injured, 10 of them seriously.
"This is a very difficult night in the battle for our future," Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said. "We are determined to continue to strike our enemies on all fronts."
US President Donald Trump threatened to destroy power plants in Iran if Tehran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz to shipping within 48 hours, world agencies reported.
Trump's statement, made on Saturday evening on social media, comes just a day after he said the US was considering "gradual closure" of the Middle East operation, Reuters reports.
“If Iran does not fully, without threats, open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours of this moment, the United States of America will strike and destroy their power plants, starting with the largest!“, the American head of state said.
The threat of Iranian attacks prevents most ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz - a relatively narrow waterway that serves to deliver about a fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, potentially causing a global energy shock.
The closure of the strait to almost all ships led to a jump in gas prices in Europe by up to 35 percent last week.