Arabic version: ترامب يصدر إنذارًا بشأن محطات الطاقة والجسور في إيران
US President Donald Trump has set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 PM Eastern Time on April 7, threatening destruction of the country’s power plants and bridges if the strait remains closed. This ultimatum follows a previous threat made on March 21, where Trump indicated he would attack Iran’s power plants – “the biggest one first” – if the strait was not reopened within 48 hours. According to Al Jazeera, Trump has extended the deadline multiple times, citing progress in negotiations that Iran denies are taking place.
In addition to the threat against power plants, Trump has also mentioned targeting bridges in Iran. Recently, a US-Israeli strike damaged the B1 bridge in Karaj, a significant infrastructure link in the region. Legal experts have raised concerns that such actions could be classified as collective punishment, which is prohibited under international law.
Iran operates hundreds of power plants, forming one of the largest electricity systems in the Middle East, serving around 92 million people. The majority of these plants are located near major population centers, with significant clusters in western Iran, where cities like Tehran, Mashhad, and Isfahan are situated. Most of Iran’s power generation relies on gas-fired plants, with additional contributions from hydro, coal, and nuclear sources.
The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, Iran’s only nuclear facility with a capacity of 1,000 MW, is particularly notable as it has been a repeated target in past US and Israeli strikes, raising concerns about potential radioactive contamination. The Damavand Power Plant, with a capacity of 2,900 MW, is the largest in Iran, capable of supplying power to over two million homes.
Iran’s electricity generation is predominantly based on natural gas, which accounted for 86 percent of its output in 2025. Oil, hydropower, and nuclear energy contribute smaller shares, while renewable sources play a negligible role in the overall energy mix. This heavy reliance on fossil fuels positions Iran as one of the most gas-dependent power systems globally.
