Overview
- President Trump warned on Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or the U.S. will “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, starting with the largest.
- U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Mike Waltz said on Sunday that all options remain on the table and argued IRGC control of critical infrastructure makes certain sites legitimate military targets.
- Pressed on nuclear facilities, Waltz said he would not take anything off the table but added the Pentagon would focus targeting on Iran’s military infrastructure.
- U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres has cautioned that attacks on energy infrastructure could constitute a war crime, a view Waltz disputed given Iran’s use of such assets for repression and regional attacks.
- Traffic through the Strait has been largely halted for weeks, disrupting a route that normally carries around 20% of the world’s oil, and Waltz said allies including Italy, Germany, France and Japan have agreed to help ensure safe passage.