FLASH
Shkruar nga PamfletiThe US president threatened to destroy Iran's nuclear power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a significant escalation just a day after he spoke of "de-escalating" the war.
The Strait of Hormuz remains open to all but Iran's "enemies," the country's representative to the UN maritime agency said in comments published on Sunday shortly after US President Donald Trump gave Tehran 48 hours to open the waterway.
Iran has effectively blocked the narrow strait through which ships carrying 20% of the world's oil supply normally pass, causing a spike in fuel prices.
"The Strait of Hormuz is open to everyone except 'enemies'," Ali Mousavi, Iran's representative to the International Maritime Organization (IMO), said, according to the semi-official Mehr news agency, adding that "the safety of ships and their crews requires coordination with Iranian authorities."
Mousavi said Tehran is ready to coordinate with the IMO and other countries to improve maritime safety and protect seafarers.
Mousavi said diplomacy remains Iran's priority, but "a complete cessation of aggression and mutual trust and security are more essential."
US President Donald Trump this morning threatened to destroy Iran's nuclear power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a significant escalation just a day after he spoke of "de-escalating" the war.
"If Iran does not FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will strike and destroy their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE LARGEST ONE FIRST!" Trump said on social media.
Trump's ultimatum would expand the scope of US attacks on infrastructure that affects daily civilian life in Iran.
The threat of Iranian attacks has prevented most ships from passing through the strait, a narrow waterway that serves as a conduit for about a fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas supplies, threatening a global energy shock. Its closure nearly sent European gas prices soaring by as much as 35% last week. Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command said on Sunday that if the US attacks Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure, Iran will target all US energy.
Energy prices surged last week after Iran responded to an Israeli attack on its major gas field by striking Qatar's Ras Laffan Industrial City, which processes about a fifth of the world's liquefied natural gas, causing damage that will take years to repair. The threats to Gulf infrastructure came as the conflict entered dangerous new territory.
Israeli officials said Iranian forces had fired long-range missiles for the first time, expanding the risk of attacks beyond the Middle East, even as an Iranian attack wounded dozens of people not far from an Israeli nuclear site.
Iran launched two ballistic missiles with a range of 4,000 km (2,500 miles) at the US-British military base on Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Israeli army chief Eyal Zamir said. The Israeli military said it was the first time Iran had used long-range missiles since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28. "These missiles are not intended to hit Israel. Their range reaches European capitals - Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range," Zamir said in a statement on Saturday.
A British defense ministry source said the attack had come before the government gave specific authorization on Friday for the United States to use British military bases to carry out strikes on Iranian missile sites. More than 2,000 people have been killed in the war. In Israel, 15 people have been killed in Iranian attacks.
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