Iran Warns of Hormuz Closure if US Hits Power Plants
Last update: March 22, 2026
Disclaimer: This website may contain affiliate links, which means we may earn a commission if you click on the link and make a purchase. We only recommend products or services that we personally use and believe will add value to our readers. Your support is appreciated!
Iranian military statements emphasized that the waterway would stay blocked until the destroyed power plants are rebuilt.
Iran has issued a stark warning that it will completely close the Strait of Hormuz a critical global oil chokepoint if the United States follows through on threats to target Iranian power plants.
CBI News reports that the escalation follows a 48-hour ultimatum issued by U.S. President Donald Trump late Saturday, demanding that Iran fully reopen the strait without threats to shipping. Trump stated on social media that failure to comply would prompt the U.S. to "hit and obliterate" Iran's various power plants, "starting with the biggest one first!"
In direct response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) declared on Sunday that the strait would be shut down immediately and remain closed until any damaged Iranian power infrastructure is rebuilt.
Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf further warned that any U.S. or Israeli strikes on Iranian energy facilities would make regional energy sites, desalination plants, and other critical infrastructure "legitimate targets" for retaliation, potentially leading to their "irreversible destruction." He highlighted the risk of prolonged high oil prices as a consequence.
CBI noted that the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of the world's crude oil and natural gas supplies pass, has been effectively disrupted amid the ongoing conflict that began in late February. Iranian actions have severely limited shipping, contributing to surging global energy prices and heightened tensions in the region.
This back-and-forth comes as the broader Middle East crisis enters its fourth week, with recent exchanges including Iranian missile strikes and Israeli responses targeting sites in Iran. U.S. military assets, including Marines and landing craft, continue to move toward the area amid fears of wider escalation.
Analysts note that a full closure of the strait could trigger severe disruptions to global energy markets, while any U.S. strikes on power infrastructure risk massive civilian impacts in Iran and retaliatory attacks on allied facilities across the Gulf.
