Iran hit back, saying it would completely blockade the Strait of Hormuz until its power plants are rebuilt if they are destroyed by a U.S. attack. Iran had claimed that ships unrelated to the war could pass through the strait, but it now says it will block even that. It effectively signaled a tit-for-tat response to U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that he would strike power plants if the strait is not opened within 48 hours.
Ebrahim Zolfaghari, Spokesperson for Khatam al-Anbiya, the military headquarters that commands Iran's armed forces, said on the 22nd (local time), "If the U.S. threat targeting Iran's power plants is carried out, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed," adding, "It will not reopen until the plants are rebuilt."
Spokesperson Zolfaghari said, "All of Israel's power plants, energy infrastructure, and information and communications technology facilities will be targets," and added, "We will completely destroy corporations in the Middle East in which the United States holds equity." He also threatened to target power plants in Middle Eastern countries that host U.S. military bases.
Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Iranian parliament speaker seen as a hard-liner, also said on social media on the same day, "The moment our infrastructure is attacked, key infrastructure, energy, and oil facilities in the Middle East will be destroyed."
President Trump said on social media the same day, "If Iran does not fully open the strait, starting at the 48-hour mark we will strike and devastate power facilities across Iran, beginning with the largest power plant."