President Donald Trump and Israeli leaders intensified their demands on Iran Saturday, threatening attacks on energy facilities unless Tehran reopens the crucial Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, as military forces from both nations continue searching for a missing American service member.
The president issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, marking the latest escalation in the six-week-old conflict that began with coordinated U.S.-Israeli strikes on February 28.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them. Glory be to GOD!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Throughout the conflict, Trump’s public statements have alternated between suggesting diplomatic breakthroughs and threatening to bomb Iran “back to the Stone Ages.”
Following Trump’s ultimatum, a high-ranking Israeli defense official revealed that Israel is preparing strikes against Iranian energy infrastructure and awaits U.S. authorization. The official indicated such operations could occur within the coming week, aligning with Trump’s previous threats against Iranian power facilities.
Tehran responded with its own warning, telling U.S. and Israeli forces that the “entire region will become a hell for you” if military actions continue to escalate, Iranian media outlets reported.
The conflict has reached a critical juncture as it enters its sixth week, with American forces facing the possibility of a service member captured or hiding within Iranian territory, diminishing prospects for diplomatic resolution, and declining domestic support for the military campaign.
Despite Iran’s unwavering stance since hostilities began, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi indicated potential openness to peace negotiations through Pakistani mediation, though he showed no indication of yielding to American demands.
“We are deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us,” Araqchi wrote on social media platform X.
Following a fourth strike near the Bushehr nuclear facility Saturday, Araqchi sent a letter to the United Nations warning of an “intolerable situation that poses a serious risk of radiological release,” according to Iranian state media.
The ongoing warfare has resulted in thousands of casualties, triggered a global energy crisis, and threatens long-term economic damage worldwide. Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that typically handles approximately one-fifth of global oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.
Iranian forces have launched extensive drone and missile attacks against Israel while also targeting Gulf nations allied with the United States, though these countries have avoided direct military involvement to prevent further escalation.
Iranian state television reported military strikes against U.S. radar facilities and an American-linked aluminum facility in the United Arab Emirates, as well as U.S. military command centers in Kuwait, describing these as retaliation for deadly attacks on Iranian industrial sites.
Earlier, Iranian forces targeted an Israeli-connected vessel with a drone attack in the strait, igniting the ship, state media reported, citing the Revolutionary Guards naval commander.
Yemen’s Iran-supported Houthis announced Saturday they had launched ballistic missiles and drones at Israel in coordination with Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, the Iranian military, and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. The group provided no evidence of resulting damage.
Israeli officials have not acknowledged the reported attack.
The loss of two American military aircraft demonstrates ongoing risks for U.S. and Israeli pilots, despite claims by Trump and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that American forces maintain complete aerial dominance over Iran.
Iranian defensive fire brought down a two-person U.S. F-15E fighter jet, with officials from both countries confirming Friday that rescue teams recovered one crew member.
Two Black Hawk helicopters involved in the search mission for the missing airman came under Iranian fire but successfully escaped Iranian airspace, U.S. officials told Reuters.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps reported conducting search operations in a southwestern region near the downed aircraft’s crash site, while the local governor offered rewards for anyone who captures or kills “forces of the hostile enemy.”
In a separate incident, an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft was struck and crashed over Kuwait, with the pilot successfully ejecting, according to U.S. officials.
Iranians, who have endured weeks of aerial bombardment since the U.S.-Israeli campaign began, celebrated these defensive victories.
The Khatam al-Anbiya joint military command announced the deployment of a new air defense system Friday, which successfully engaged a U.S. fighter aircraft, three unmanned drones, and two cruise missiles.
“The enemy should know that we rely on new air-defence systems built by the young, knowledgeable, and proud people of this country, unveiling them one after another in the field,” a Khatam al-Anbiya representative stated, according to Iranian state media.
The Revolutionary Guards reported launching multiple missiles and drones targeting various locations across Israel. Israeli media confirmed that two warheads from an Iranian cluster munition struck near Israel’s Kirya military headquarters in Tel Aviv.
Later Saturday, the Israel Defense Forces detected additional missiles fired from Iran toward Israeli territory.
Iranian state media documented airstrikes at a petrochemical complex in southwestern Iran, resulting in five injuries. Officials later reported that fires at the facility had been extinguished.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel conducted the strike against the plant, which an Israeli military spokesperson said manufactured materials for explosives and missile production.
Israel continues conducting a separate military campaign against Iran-backed Hezbollah forces in Lebanon after the militant organization launched attacks against Israel in support of Iran.
Early Saturday, Israeli military forces announced strikes against militant infrastructure locations in Beirut. Officials later confirmed an Israeli soldier was killed during combat operations in southern Lebanon.
