Iran Vows to Fully Shut Strait of Hormuz in Retaliation if US Targets Power Plants
Tehran has issued a stark warning that it will completely close the strategic Strait of Hormuz if the United States carries out threats to strike Iranian power plants, escalating tensions amid the ongoing US-Israeli conflict with Iran now in its fourth week.
According to Al Jazeera’s live coverage, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared that any attack on the country’s energy facilities would prompt an immediate and total shutdown of the vital waterway, a chokepoint through which roughly one-fifth of global oil supplies pass. The IRGC further stated that energy infrastructure in countries hosting US bases would become legitimate targets, and companies with US interests could face complete destruction.
The threat follows US President Donald Trump’s ultimatum posted on Truth Social late Saturday, demanding that Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz—without any threats—within 48 hours, or face US strikes that would “obliterate” its power plants, beginning with the largest ones. Trump, speaking from his Florida residence, emphasized the need to restore unrestricted freedom of navigation in the strait.
In a separate statement reported by Al Jazeera, Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, warned that if power plants and other infrastructure in Iran are targeted, vital energy, oil, and water facilities across the broader region would be deemed legitimate targets and “irreversibly destroyed.” He described the potential response as targeting critical infrastructure in Gulf states and beyond.
The exchange marks a significant intensification of rhetoric, with Iran maintaining effective control over the strait, which has led to disruptions in global shipping and elevated oil prices. Tehran has previously indicated the waterway is under its oversight rather than fully militarily closed, but the latest vows suggest readiness for outright blockage in response to escalation.
No immediate military action on power plants has been reported as of the latest updates, but the 48-hour deadline set by Trump—expiring around March 24—has heightened concerns about further regional instability. International observers note the strait’s critical role in energy security, with any prolonged closure potentially causing widespread economic repercussions.