US President Donald Trump don issue strong threat to Iran, say if dem no open di Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, dem go face serious strikes for dia power plants and bridges. Trump yarn dis threat for social media on Sunday, and e carry plenty strong words wey dey show say di tension for Middle East don reach another level.
Di war wey dey between US-Israel and Iran don enter second month now, and di whole matter dey spread like wildfire. Trump talk say Tuesday go be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, for Iran.” E even add say if dem no open di strait, dem go dey “live for Hell.” Di US President end im message with “Praise be to Allah,” wey make some Muslim groups for America vex wella.
Meanwhile, Iran no dey show any sign of fear. Dem don continue to strike neighboring Gulf countries like Kuwait, Bahrain, and United Arab Emirates. For Kuwait, Iranian drone attacks cause serious damage to power plants and one petrochemical plant. Even water desalination station wey dey supply drinking water don stop to work. Bahrain sef suffer fire for one oil storage facility after drone attack.
For United Arab Emirates, authorities respond to fires at petrochemical plant for Ruwais wey dem say come from intercepted debris. Sharjah government talk say one Nepali and three Pakistani nationals wound for Khor Fakkan port after debris from intercepted Iranian projectile cause fire. One person wound serious, dem carry am go hospital.
Di Strait of Hormuz na serious matter for global trade. E dey carry about one-fifth of world oil and liquefied natural gas. Since di war start, Iran don practically stop cargo traffic through di strait, and dis don make oil and gas prices rise for everywhere. Trump deadline na 9 p.m. EDT Monday, and e dey center on dis growing alarm.
Iranian leaders dey talk say dem no dey negotiate with US. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi talk say e no get confidence in talks, even though messages dey come from Washington. Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismiss Trump threats as “reckless” and talk say “You no go gain anything through war crimes.”
For Israel side, di war dey expand to Lebanon. Israeli strikes for southern Lebanon don intensify against Hezbollah, but civilian casualties dey rise. Reports talk say more than 1,240 people don die, including UN peacekeepers. Israeli officials don signal say dem plan to demolish homes and prevent displaced residents from returning.
Casualties dey pile up everywhere. For Iran, more than 1,900 people don die since di war begin. For Gulf Arab states and occupied West Bank, more than two dozen people don die. For Israel, 19 people don die, and 13 US service members don die. Lebanon suffer pass – more than 1,400 people don die and more than 1 million people don leave dia homes. Ten Israeli soldiers don die for Lebanon.
Di humanitarian situation for Iran dey worsen. Residents for Tehran dey face power outages, strict security restrictions, and internet blackouts. NetBlocks talk say Iran internet blackout don last 37 consecutive days, making am di longest nation-scale internet shutdown on record.
Di rescue of US service members wey dia jet crash for Iran don add another layer to di crisis. Trump talk say one “seriously wounded and really brave” service member don rescue from “deep inside di mountains” of Iran. E talk say di rescue na rarely attempted type of operation because of potential dangers. Iran claim say dem shoot down transport plane and two helicopters wey be part of rescue operation, but US officials deny dis.
Global energy markets dey under serious pressure. Di Czech Republic don announce plans to release 100,000 metric tonnes of oil from im reserves. Eight countries from OPEC+ oil cartel – Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman – talk say dem go increase production by 206,000 barrels per day for May, but dis remain on paper because of loss of estimated 12 million barrels a day from Persian Gulf producers due to Hormuz closure.
Di war dey affect even satellite imagery companies. Planet Labs talk say US government don ask top providers of satellite imagery to stop publishing photos from parts of Middle East because of di war. Dis go limit reporting on regions where on-the-ground access for journalists dey impossible or unsafe.
For Lebanon, di main border crossing between Lebanon and Syria don close after Israeli military warn of plans to strike am, alleging say Hezbollah dey use am to smuggle military equipment. Samir Abdelkhaleq from Lebanese border town of Majdal Anjar talk say di closure na economic blow to many people.
Despite di violence, some people dey try maintain normal life. Armenian Christians celebrate Easter at St. Sarkis Cathedral for central Tehran on Sunday. Juanita Arakel, 40-year-old English language teacher, talk say “Whether we like am or not, we get young children wey no understand wetin dey happen. Dem just need to feel normal.”
Di Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) assail Trump for invoking Allah in im Truth Social post threatening Iran. Dem talk say “President Trump’s deranged mocking of Islam and im threats to attack civilian infrastructure for Iran na reckless, dangerous, and indicative of mindset wey show indifference to human life and contempt for religious beliefs.”
As di deadline dey approach, diplomatic efforts dey continue. Oman Foreign Ministry talk say deputy foreign ministers and experts from Iran and Oman meet to discuss proposals to ensure “smooth transit” through di strait. Egypt Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty talk by phone with US Secretary of State Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as with Turkish and Pakistani counterparts wey dey help mediate.
Pakistan Foreign Ministry talk say dem don convey to Araghchi say Islamabad support “all efforts aimed at de-escalation.” Islamabad talk say dem go soon host talks between US and Iran.
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