Delhi-bound Mahan aircraft hit in US airstrikes in Iran: Reports

Tehran: An aircraft operated by Mahan Air was reportedly hit in a US airstrike at Mashhad Airport, Iranian sources told ANI, adding that the plane had been scheduled to fly to Delhi for collecting humanitarian aid.

The reported strike comes amid a sharp escalation in tensions between the United States and Iran, with fears mounting over the widening scope of the conflict and its potential impact on regional stability.

US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to destroy Iran’s key crude export hub at Kharg Island, along with critical infrastructure, unless Tehran agrees to a peace deal. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the US was engaged in “serious discussions” with “a more reasonable regime” in Iran, but issued a stark warning over the consequences of failure to reach an agreement.

He said US forces could target “all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinisation plants!)” if a deal is not struck, including reopening the strategic Strait of Hormuz shipping route.

The escalating rhetoric has heightened concerns in global energy markets, already rattled by the ongoing conflict. Analysts warn that any disruption involving Kharg Island or the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes, could have far-reaching consequences for oil prices and global trade.

Experts have also cautioned that targeting civilian infrastructure such as power and water facilities could violate international humanitarian law and potentially constitute a war crime.

Iran has previously warned it would retaliate against energy infrastructure in Gulf countries hosting US military bases, including the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar and Saudi Arabia, raising the risk of a broader regional confrontation.