Iran awaits Trump threat to ‘obliterate’ power plants, readies response

Iran on Monday faces a deadline by US President Donald Trump to open up the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face a major US assault on power plants, as Israel warned of weeks more of war.Israel also gave the clearest signs yet it intends a ground campaign into Lebanon, destroying a key bridge as it vows to crush Hezbollah, the Shia Muslim movement backed by Iran.Trump, after enthusiastically backing Israel in the war the two countries launched on February 28, is under political pressure as fuel prices rise, the result of Iran’s attempts to retaliate in the oil-rich Gulf.Trump on Saturday threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it did not within 48 hours end its partial blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway into the Gulf through which one-fifth of the world’s oil flows.A satellite image showing the Strait of Hormuz. Photo: Nasa via dpaThe deadline, based on the time of his initial social media post, would be at 11.44pm UK time on Monday. This corresponds to 7.44pm Monday in Washington, 3.14am Tuesday in Tehran, and 7.44am Tuesday in Hong Kong.Iran’s military command responded defiantly, saying that if Trump goes ahead, it would strike Israel’s “power plants, energy and information and communications technology infrastructure” - along with power plants in regional countries hosting US bases and companies with American shareholders.