Iran’s Foreign Ministry and military command issued a formal "respond in kind" ultimatum to the United States. Following President Donald Trump’s social media threats to target Iranian civilian infrastructure unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened, Tehran has countered by marking American-related energy and transport assets in the region for potential retaliatory strikes.

Speaking in Tehran, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei clarified that the Iranian armed forces are no longer speaking in metaphors. Baghaei stated that any aggression against Iranian sovereignty would result in a direct, proportional response against any infrastructure "our armed forces would target any similar infrastructure that is owned or in any way or manner related to the United States or contributes to their act of aggression against Iran.”

This stance was echoed by Iranian Culture Minister Sayed Reza Salihi-Amiri, who described the current US administration as a "phenomenon" defined by contradictory positions. While diplomatic channels remain technically open, the Iranian UN mission has already characterised Trump’s specific threats to civilian life-support systems, such as desalination plants and power grids, as "clear evidence of intent to commit war crimes."

The current crisis peaked after President Trump took to Truth Social and participated in an Axios interview to issue a final warning. Using unusually blunt language, Trump declared that Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day and Bridge Day" in Iran if a deal to end the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz is not reached.

"Open the F****n' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah," the President posted, suggesting that the U.S. is prepared to "blow up everything" to ensure global energy security. This follows reports that a major Iranian bridge has already been disabled, an event Trump cited as a precursor to much larger strikes.

The core of this conflict remains the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic chokpoint through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes. Trump’s "Deal or Destruction" policy aims to force Iran into a comprehensive security agreement before the region's energy infrastructure is permanently crippled.

However, the Joint Military Command of Iran has signalled that they will not be the only ones to suffer. They have warned of "stepped-up attacks" on regional oil facilities across the Middle East if U.S. or Israeli forces target Iranian civilian sites.