Iran intensifies military actions following Trump’s warning on the Strait of Hormuz

Smoke rises following an Israeli airstrike on the area of Ali al-Daher in southern Lebanon as seen from nearby Marjeyoun. Iran launched new attacks across the Middle East on Monday, threatening “devastating” retaliation following US President Donald Trump’s explicit warning for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Israel, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates reported missile and drone strikes early Monday.

Tehran’s military command escalated rhetoric against Trump, warning of “much more devastating” consequences if civilian targets are struck. This warning followed Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure unless Tehran complies with demands to reopen the Gulf for shipping. Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy chokepoint, provoking Trump to demand Sunday: “Open the F*ckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell.” In a follow-up post, the president apparently set a new deadline for Iran to comply: “Tuesday, 8:00 PM” (0000 GMT Wednesday).

As Christians marked Easter, Trump revived warnings of air strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges, after celebrating the rescue of a wounded airman whose fighter jet went down inside Iran. Iranian images showed wreckage of several aircraft, but Tehran did not deny US forces rescued the officer, who sheltered in a mountainous area while American special forces and Iranian troops raced to find him. Trump said in a Truth Social post announcing the airman’s rescue that he would give a news conference on Monday. The war, which erupted on February 28 with deadly US-Israeli strikes on Tehran, has engulfed the Middle East and strained the global economy.