Trump threatens to 'obliterate' Iran's power plants as Iran strikes 2 Israeli cities
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The Bottom Line
President Trump threatened to destroy Iran's power plants after Iran struck two Israeli cities.
How This Affects You
Escalating US-Iran military threats could disrupt global oil markets, potentially raising gas prices and inflation.
AI Summary
Iran launched missile strikes on two southern Israeli cities near the country's main nuclear research center. President Trump responded by threatening to "obliterate" Iran's power plants and issued a 48-hour ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The escalation marks a sharp intensification of regional tensions, with Trump's explicit threat to Iranian infrastructure and his demand on a critical global shipping chokepoint signaling the Trump administration's readiness for potential military action.
What's Being Done
President Trump gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
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Israel vows retaliation after most destructive Iranian attack since war started
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GlobalTrump compares US strikes on Iran to WWII Pearl Harbor attack
During Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi's visit to Washington, Donald #Trump was asked why #US allies - including #Japan - were not involved in talks regarding strikes in #Iran before they happened. Trump said the reason was surprise, before asking why Japan hadn’t warned of the attack on Pearl Harbor.
National SecurityWhat to know about Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant after report of projectile hitting its complex - AP News
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqgFBVV95cUxNcUN0TlN2WEs3LTJ2bnBjRGhuOXlwZ0V0QzUzRVAtRVM0WGNoVlhGam9CY1NpbmZtN0VQRU1Xbm1WLTlmNFI2aE9idl82d2xweF9YUWpzOERjTGtLWEdXZC1HMWJqcEtEWFpPV0l2REtwdlhyLXJXWHdGTk1aVEMxOVdGd21XQ1RpSWxMZjJxNDBfOEI2czZUVW5ZemttUTNxSXQ4THdVcVVhdw?oc=5" target="_blank">What to know about Iran's Bushehr nuclear power plant after report of projectile hitting its complex</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">AP News</font>
National SecurityTrump draws parallel between Pearl Harbor and US strikes on Iran in meeting with Japanese PM - Reuters
<a href="https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizwFBVV95cUxOSWhVYmREVDZqdE5UMzFzckNMY0hYZXZGaHNpNEhSTmdjczl6VEFtLV9YeVh3N1lUQjBKQmpNOVZZdE5jb2k0YUo5V283bWxtYThzOWh4TkhxbHlMcGRvVXo0YmE0NkhMTFVMNjBLN29wc1BQM3JpWjhkTHd3b1o1X2tOX0t6MkpsWDNRMEpBenl0SkZmaUtFSjFtVU43NGluc0laSWc4N3JPZ3dQc2hkbkp1QzFNVEc4aVBYaU8zcVN5c255YWJzaGNhYjJCdUk?oc=5" target="_blank">Trump draws parallel between Pearl Harbor and US strikes on Iran in meeting with Japanese PM</a> <font color="#6f6f6f">Reuters</font>
GlobalIsrael launches more strikes on Tehran as Iran continues attacks on Gulf oil facilities
The latest strikes come after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Thursday that Israel would "hold off on future attacks" on Iran's energy infrastructure, following Trump's request.
National SecurityTrump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait
<p>The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a>, four sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> President Trump can't end the war, at least on his terms, until he breaks <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-mines-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank">Iran's chokehold</a> on shipping through the strait. In the meantime, global <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">energy</a> prices are surging.</p><hr><ul><li>But an operation to take over Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, could put U.S. troops more directly in the line of fire.</li><li>Thus, such an operation would only be launched after the U.S. military further degrades Iran's military capa...
GlobalTrump news at a glance: president claims ignorance of Israel’s plan to strike Iranian gasfield, exposing rift
<p>Trump claimed on Truth Social that he had known nothing about the targeting of Iran’s gas reserves in advance – key US politics stories from 19 March 2026 at a glance</p><p>The <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/us-israel-war-on-iran">US-Israeli war</a> against Iran has exposed further divisions between the two countries after <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/18/iran-intelligence-minister-esmail-khatib-killed-israel-claims">an Israeli strike on Iran’s largest gasfield angered US allies in the Gulf</a> and prompted Donald Trump to say he knew nothing in advance about the attack – a claim that Israeli officials disputed.</p><p>Speaking in the Oval Office on Thursday, Trump said he had spoken to Benjamin Netanyahu following the strikes on Iran’s South Pars gasfield – part of a reserve shared with Qatar – and had told the Israeli prime minister to refrain from further attacks that could escalate a regional war on energy infrastructure.</p> <a href="https://...
Iran threatens to close Strait of Hormuz and hit power plants after Trump's 48-hour deadline
Iran said the Strait of Hormuz would be "completely closed" immediately if the U.S. follows up on Trump's new threat to attack its power plants. Trump late Saturday set a 48-hour deadline to open the strait.
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