Iran acknowledged substantial damage to its water and electricity infrastructure following attacks it attributes to the United States and Israel.
Iran Reports Extensive Damage
Aliabadi, cited by the Isna agency, stated that critical water and electricity infrastructure suffered “serious losses” due to alleged terrorist and cyberattacks by the United States and Israel.
The head of the Iranian Red Crescent, Pirhosein Koliwand, reported damage to 81,365 civilian structures, including homes, schools, medical facilities, and vehicles.
Trump’s Prior Threats
Former U.S. President Donald Trump previously threatened to destroy Iranian power plants, starting with the largest.
Trump, on his Truth Social platform, warned that if Iran did not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the U.S. would destroy various Iranian power plants, beginning with the largest.
Potential Targets Include Nuclear Facility
U.S. Ambassador to the UN, Michael Waltz, indicated that Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant could be a target of U.S. attacks.
Waltz stated the Trump administration would aim to target infrastructure supporting military operations, acknowledging the difficulty of avoiding civilian infrastructure. He affirmed he would not rule out any option for the President.
IRGC Control and Justification for Attacks
Waltz emphasized that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), designated as a terrorist organization, controls a significant portion of Iran’s critical infrastructure and economy.
He argued that weakening the IRGC’s military and industrial base justifies considering all options.
Allegations of Using Civilians as Shields
Waltz accused Iranian authorities of deliberately and illegally “hiding” behind civilian infrastructure and utilizing it.
He asserted that facilities used for repression and attacks on neighbors become “justifiable targets.”
Escalation of Conflict
The conflict in the Middle East began on February 28th with Israeli and U.S. strikes on Iran, which retaliated against Israel, U.S. military bases, and civilian facilities in Gulf states, including airports and petrochemical installations.
Iran also blocked shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, halting oil exports from the Middle East.
The small coral island of Khark in the Persian Gulf is identified as a potential key battleground due to its role in exporting Iranian oil.
