Iran’s military warned Sunday, March 22, 2026, that it will strike regional infrastructure if its own energy facilities are attacked, following a threat from the U.S. President to “annihilate” Iranian energy plants should Tehran not quickly reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The escalating rhetoric comes as tensions remain high in the Middle East following attacks between Iran and Israel.
“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure of the United States and the regime in the region will be targeted,” a statement from Khatam Al Anbiya, the spokesman for Iran’s army operations command, said according to the Fars news agency.
The warning followed a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Donald Trump demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which has been effectively blocked since the outbreak of the conflict in the Middle East.
The exchange of threats occurred after Iran launched missiles Saturday night at the Israeli cities of Arad and Dimona, locations that house nuclear facilities. Israeli sources reported that 84 people were injured in Arad and 33 in Dimona.
Nuclear Weapons
Israel is widely believed to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons, though it maintains a policy of “strategic ambiguity,” neither confirming nor denying their existence. The country’s Dimona facility, located in the Negev Desert, is officially described as a nuclear research and energy supply center. However, foreign press reports have suggested it has been involved in the production of atomic weapons for decades.
In Arad, located 25 kilometers northeast of Dimona, local media showed images of damaged buildings in a residential area. The attacks underscore the potential for wider regional escalation as the conflict continues.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue attacks “on all fronts.”
Iran claimed responsibility for the missile launches, stating they were “in response” to an “enemy” attack on the Natanz complex in central Iran. Iranian officials reported no evidence of a “leak of radioactive materials” at the site.
mg (afp, efe)
