Iran showed no sign of backing down Tuesday as a US deadline loomed for it to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, defying threats by President Donald Trump to “decimate” the country’s civilian infrastructure.
The Iranian army dismissed what they called Trump’s “arrogant rhetoric and baseless threats”, saying they would not hinder operations against US and Israeli forces more than five weeks into the war.
Trump has warned that unless Tehran allows free passage through the strategic oil chokepoint by midnight GMT Tuesday, the United States will unleash what he called the “complete demolition” of Iran’s critical infrastructure.
Fighting raged across the region overnight, with Israel’s military saying Tuesday it carried out a new “wave” of air strikes on what it called Iranian “terror regime infrastructure” in Tehran and other areas. Iranian media said explosions were heard in parts of Tehran and nearby Karaj early Tuesday.
The Israeli army later said it had detected missiles launched from Iran towards Israeli territory, adding that air defence systems were working to intercept them.
Across the Gulf, Bahrain’s interior ministry said air-raid sirens sounded Tuesday morning, urging residents to seek shelter, while the United Arab Emirates said its air defences were actively engaging missiles and drones.
Saudi Arabia’s defence ministry said its air defences intercepted and destroyed seven ballistic missiles launched towards the kingdom’s east, with debris falling near energy facilities.
