Iran threatens to 'irreversibly destroy' regional energy facilities if US attacks its power plants

TEHRAN - 22 March 2026: Iran warned on Sunday that it would immediately close the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global oil exports, and hit "critial infrastructure" across the region if the United States follows through on President Donald Trump’s threat to strike Iranian power plants.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said on X that "immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets."

He warned that these facilities "will be destroyed in an irreversible manner and the price of oil will remain high for a long time."

Trump issued a 48-hour deadline late Saturday for Iran to reopen the strait.

He warned that the US would destroy Iran’s “various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” if the waterway remained blocked.

The Strait of Hormuz handles a significant portion of the world’s oil shipments, meaning any closure could have major regional and global economic implications.