Airstrikes across Iran killed dozens on Tuesday as Tehran struck targets in Israel and Saudi Arabia and officials urged young people to form human chains around power plants to protect critical infrastructure. The moves came as US President Donald Trump pressed Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping by a Tuesday 8 pm EDT deadline, threatening strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges if it did not comply.
Key developments
– Airstrikes and casualties: Iranian state media reported an airstrike in Alborz province, northwest of Tehran, killed at least 18 people and wounded 24, according to the judiciary’s Mizan news agency. Authorities also reported at least 29 people killed across the country in multiple strikes, including hits near Tehran and at the grounds of the Sharif University of Technology. The overall death toll since the war began has been reported at more than 1,900 in Iran, though Tehran has not updated its official total in days.
– Iran’s domestic mobilization: Iranian officials urged youths to form human chains around power plants to protect them. The appeal followed a series of strikes on energy and military sites, including a claimed Israeli strike on a petrochemical plant in the South Pars gas field, a major revenue and energy source for Iran.
– Trump’s ultimatum and threats: President Trump set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its infrastructure. He expanded threats to include all of Iran’s power plants and bridges, saying “The entire country can be taken out in one night” and warning bridges and power plants would be destroyed if Iran did not comply. The US has extended prior deadlines before, but Trump suggested this one was final.
– Regional impacts and security measures: Saudi Arabia temporarily closed the King Fahd Causeway linking it to Bahrain after threats from Iran; the causeway later reopened. Saudi Arabia also closed the only road connection to Bahrain early Tuesday after Iranian missiles targeted its oil-rich Eastern Province. Israel issued Farsi warnings for Iranians to avoid trains until at least 9 pm local time, signaling rail infrastructure as a potential target.
– International reactions and diplomacy: China urged parties to seize any opportunity for peace and resume talks. Pakistan described its mediation efforts to stop the war as reaching a “critical, sensitive” stage. Italy’s Defence Minister warned the conflict jeopardizes US global leadership, expressing concern about risks of escalation. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said he was “alarmed” by Trump’s rhetoric threatening attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure.
– Military and intelligence developments: Israel has carried out a campaign of airstrikes that it says targeted military and revenue-generating sites and killed senior Iranian commanders, including leaders tied to the Revolutionary Guard and Qods Force. Ukrainian intelligence, cited by Reuters, said Russian satellites provided detailed imagery of military facilities across the Middle East to help Iran hone attacks, and that Russian and Iranian hackers were collaborating in cyberspace.
– Domestic security measures in Iran: Iran’s judiciary chief urged expedited trials and harsher penalties for those accused of aiding adversaries, including alleged collaboration with foreign-based opposition channels. Authorities have detained hundreds accused of assisting Iran’s foes since the strikes began.
– Wider human and economic toll: Across the region, more than 1,400 people have been reported killed in Lebanon since the fighting expanded, displacing over a million people. Eleven Israeli soldiers have died in Lebanon; 23 deaths have been reported in Israel, and 13 US service members killed. Global markets and energy supplies felt the strain: crude oil futures hit record levels in local futures trade, while oil prices hovered near $110 per barrel amid fears over the Strait of Hormuz. About 18% of French petrol stations temporarily lacked some fuel, and rising costs prompted surges in demand for electric motorbikes in Pakistan.
– Financial markets and currencies: European shares were muted and Asian markets traded cautiously ahead of the US deadline, while the dollar remained near recent highs as traders awaited developments.
– Logistics and energy security responses: South Korea announced plans to send an envoy to Kazakhstan, Oman and Saudi Arabia to secure crude and naphtha supplies. Malaysia reported a vessel had secured safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. TotalEnergies in France imposed a retail price ceiling that contributed to localized supply issues.
– Other notable items: A Japanese national believed to have been an NHK journalist detained in Iran was released on bail. Reports indicated significant damage to Iranian air bases and aviation assets after strikes on several Tehran airports, and Israeli officials vowed to continue targeting top Iranian figures.
Context and background
The fighting intensified after the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran starting in late February. Iran responded with missiles and attacks across the region, including on Gulf Arab states and shipping routes. The Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokepoint through which roughly a fifth of global oil transits in peacetime, has been effectively blocked at times, prompting global concern over supply and inflation. International efforts at mediation, including ceasefire proposals, have so far failed to produce a lasting halt to hostilities.
Casualty and damage figures remain fluid, with state and international tallies differing. The situation continues to evolve rapidly as military actions, diplomatic moves, and economic repercussions unfold. Agencies contributed reporting.
