IRIA News

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United States President Donald Trump said that “all hell” will break loose if Iran does not agree to a deal within 48 hours, as tensions across the Middle East intensified following weeks of sustained military exchanges between U.S.-Israeli forces and Iran.

The warning comes as a 10-day deadline set by Washington for Iran to reopen the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz nears expiration. The waterway, which Iran has effectively closed since the conflict began in late February, is a critical global oil transit route, with disruptions already driving up energy prices worldwide.

In a series of statements over the weekend, Trump sharply escalated his rhetoric, warning that the United States could target Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not comply.

“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump said in a social media post. In another message, he added: “Open the Strait… or you’ll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH!”

The threats signal a potential shift toward broader targeting of infrastructure, raising concerns among international observers about the risk of further escalation and potential violations of international humanitarian law.

Trump has repeatedly stated that Iran is engaged in negotiations and that a deal could be reached quickly. However, Iranian officials have shown little indication of accepting U.S. demands, instead calling for an end to what they describe as an “illegal war.”

US Pilot Rescue Operation

Amid the escalating conflict, Trump confirmed that U.S. forces carried out a high-risk rescue operation inside Iran to retrieve a downed pilot.

“At my direction, the US Military sent dozens of aircraft, armed with the most lethal weapons in the world, to retrieve him,” Trump said, describing the mission as a “miraculous Search and Rescue Operation.”

He added that a second pilot had also been rescued in a separate operation that had initially been kept confidential.

U.S. officials and lawmakers provided additional details, stating that one of the rescued airmen had climbed approximately 7,000 feet in mountainous terrain before evacuation.

The operation reportedly involved destroying equipment on the ground to prevent sensitive technology from falling into Iranian hands.

However, Iranian authorities presented a sharply different account. According to Iranian state media, the country’s military forces intercepted and repelled the rescue attempt near Isfahan, destroying multiple U.S. aircraft.

Iranian officials claimed that two Black Hawk helicopters and two C-130 military transport aircraft were hit during the operation, accusing Washington of attempting to conceal the losses.

According to the spokesperson of the ‌unified ⁠command of Iranian armed forces, “Additional investigations ​by experts on the ground revealed that two C-130 military transport planes and two Black Hawk ​helicopters of the U.S. army were ​destroyed by our forces.”

The Iranian Army and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said in separate statements that Iran also downed a U.S. MQ-9 drone and an Israeli Hermes-900 drone in Isfahan province.

The conflicting narratives highlight the information warfare dimension of the conflict, with both sides seeking to shape perceptions of battlefield success.

Strikes Widen Across Region

Military operations intensified over the weekend, with strikes reported across multiple regions in Iran. The Israel Defense Forces confirmed it had carried out attacks on more than 120 targets, including ballistic missile systems, drone production facilities, and air defense networks.

Iranian media reported civilian casualties in several areas, including Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad provinces, where multiple people were killed during search operations linked to the downed U.S. aircraft.

Additional casualties were reported near the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, where strikes close to the site raised alarm among international organizations. One person was reported killed by projectile fragments in the vicinity.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the attacks, stating: “Israel-U.S. have bombed our Bushehr plant four times now. Radioactive fallout will end life in GCC capitals, not Tehran.”

He also accused Western media of misrepresenting Iran’s position, emphasizing that Tehran is seeking “a lasting end to the illegal war that is imposed on us.”

Meanwhile, Iranian officials reiterated their readiness to continue resisting military pressure. Esmaeil Baghaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, said the country remains firmly committed to defending its sovereignty.

“As far as Iranians are concerned, we are determined to defend our national security, our sovereignty with all our might,” Baghaei said. “We have shown, not only in the past 37 days but throughout this whole almost five decades, that Iranians are very patriotic and prepared to fight back against their enemies.”

Beyond Iran, Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait, reported drone attacks targeting energy infrastructure, further expanding the geographic scope of the conflict.

Concerns over Nuclear Safety

The involvement of nuclear-related sites has triggered warnings from international bodies. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, head of the World Health Organization, warned of potentially catastrophic consequences.

“The latest incident involving the Bushehr nuclear power plant is a stark reminder: a strike could trigger a nuclear accident, with health impacts that would devastate generations,” he said. He called for immediate de-escalation, adding: “Peace is the best medicine.”

Former Mohamed ElBaradei also urged international intervention, warning of the risk of a wider regional catastrophe and calling for diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.

At the center of the crisis is the Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil supply passes. Iran’s closure of the route has already had immediate economic consequences, with global energy markets reacting sharply.

In the United States, average gasoline prices have risen significantly, reflecting the broader global impact of the disruption. U.S. Representative Jake Auchincloss noted that Iran’s control over the strait remains a key strategic lever.

“Iran recognizes that, in fact, their control over the Strait is even more strategically vital to them than the development of a nuclear weapon,” he said.

At the same time, concerns are growing within the United States about the long-term trajectory of the conflict. While Washington retains overwhelming military superiority, some officials have questioned whether the current approach is achieving its broader strategic objectives.