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President Donald Trump and Iranian officials exchanged threats Sunday about possible attacks on energy infrastructure in the Persian Gulf, raising concerns about a widening conflict and further disruption to global energy markets.
The president warned Saturday that the United States could target Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to shipping within 48 hours.
“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” he posted on social media.
Iranian officials responded by warning that U.S. infrastructure in the region could be targeted if Iranian energy facilities are attacked.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf wrote on X that key infrastructure and energy sites across the Middle East could be “irreversibly destroyed” if Iran’s power plants are struck.
The situation has also strained energy supplies. Iranian military actions have effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass.
The disruption has driven oil prices sharply higher and pushed European natural gas prices up by as much as 35 percent in the past week. Market analysts warned that the escalating rhetoric could increase volatility in global financial markets.
Oil prices rose Friday to their highest levels in nearly four years after Iraq declared force majeure on oilfields operated by foreign companies, Israel struck a major Iranian gas field, and Iran launched attacks on neighboring countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait.
Shipping data indicates that some vessels have continued to pass through the strait by coordinating security arrangements with Iranian authorities.
Analysts say a strike on Iran’s power plants could severely disrupt the country’s energy system, which is closely tied to its electrical grid and industrial infrastructure. Damage to major facilities could cause widespread blackouts and disrupt refineries, fuel pumps, export terminals and military operations.
Regional infrastructure could also be vulnerable. Several Gulf nations depend heavily on desalination plants along the Persian Gulf to produce drinking water, leaving them potentially exposed to retaliatory strikes if the conflict escalates further.