Iranian Ultimatum: "Israel Will Be Left in Darkness" Following Trump’s Threat to Strike Power Plants
Iran threatens to leave Israel in "total darkness" after President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran warns that any strike on its energy grid will trigger retaliatory attacks on Israeli and regional power plants.
Following a dramatic ultimatum issued by U.S. President Donald Trump, Tehran has responded with a severe counter-threat, warning that any attack on its energy infrastructure will result in a total blackout for the State of Israel.
The escalation began late Sunday when President Trump posted a stark directive on his Truth Social platform regarding the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
"If Iran does not fully open, without any threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this moment, the United States of America will strike and destroy its various power plants, starting with the largest! Thank you for your attention to this matter," Trump wrote.
On Monday morning, the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued an official response via state media. Tehran warned that if Israel or the U.S. acts on the threat to its power grid, "Israel will be darkened; it will remain in total darkness for several days."
In an expanded statement, Iranian officials clarified their targets: "All power plants, energy infrastructure, and information technology of the Zionist regime will be extensively targeted." They further declared that power plants in regional countries hosting U.S. military bases are now considered "legitimate targets."
The Strait of Hormuz remains the world’s most critical energy bottleneck, with 20% of global oil and 30% of liquefied natural gas passing through its 33-kilometer-wide passage. The current closure has already caused global oil prices to surge from $70 to $100 per barrel, fueling inflation across Western markets, a move seen as an Iranian attempt to undermine domestic support for the U.S. military campaign.
Notably, the IRGC appears to have walked back previous threats to strike desalination plants, which are vital for drinking water in the Gulf States. In their latest message, they accused President Trump of "lying" by claiming Iran intended to target civilian water supplies, focusing their rhetoric instead on the regional power grid and American-linked energy hubs.
In Israel, security officials have reportedly prepared for multiple "blackout scenarios" as the 48-hour deadline set by the White House approaches.