Arabic version: ترامب يهدد إيران بشأن الوصول إلى مضيق هرمز

The ongoing conflict involving the US, Israel, and Iran has escalated following a recent threat from former President Donald Trump. According to BBC News, Trump warned that US forces would strike Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully opened within 48 hours.

The Financial Times characterized this moment as a “new escalatory phase,” while Israel’s military chief referred to it as the “halfway point” of a war that has now entered its fourth week. Reports indicate that optimism for a swift resolution to the conflict has waned, as both Tehran and Washington have threatened to intensify bombing campaigns against civilian infrastructure, including power stations and water plants.

Iran has responded with its own threats, pledging to “irreversibly destroy” critical infrastructure across the Middle East if the US acts on Trump’s ultimatum. The Guardian noted that Tehran has specifically targeted energy and oil facilities, which could lead to significant increases in fuel prices, as warned by Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf.

In the UK, the implications of the conflict are being felt domestically. Sir Keir Starmer’s cost-of-living adviser has proposed a temporary cap on profits made by energy companies to mitigate the crisis’s impact on consumers. Meanwhile, claims about Iranian missile capabilities reaching the UK have been disputed by a cabinet minister, who insisted that “Britain is safe.”

Union leaders are advocating for the establishment of an emergency taskforce to shield the UK from the repercussions of America’s military actions in the Gulf, suggesting a response similar to the Covid-19 pandemic management efforts.