The last two days of the war in the Middle East were marked by threats and clear signs that the conflict is likely to extend and become even more dangerous. On Saturday the 21st, Trump gave Iran 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz – a vital route for oil transport blocked by Iranian attacks – otherwise the US would attack the country’s power plants.
Iran rejected the ultimatum and said the Strait would be “completely closed” if its energy infrastructure was attacked.
This Sunday, the 22nd, Pope Leo XIV said he was following the developments with consternation and classified the consequences as a “scandal”. The World Health Organization (WHO) has said that nuclear facilities pose a growing threat to public health and environmental safety.
See below the 11 main recent events:
1. Trump gives Iran ultimatum to reopen Strait of Hormuz
On Saturday the 21st, American President Donald Trump gave Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to maritime traffic, under threat of destroying its electrical power plants.
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“If Iran does not FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREATS, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this very moment, the United States will attack and destroy several POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST!” he said in a message on Truth Social.
2. Iran responds to Trump and threatens to completely close the Strait
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard has said the Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed if the United States attacks the country’s hydroelectric plants.
“The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will only reopen when our destroyed hydroelectric plants are rebuilt,” the Revolutionary Guard said.
The restrictions in the Strait were imposed by Iran at the beginning of the month. Iranian authorities claim that passage is possible for “all except enemies” – indicating that Tehran will determine which vessels will be allowed to pass. Iran has already approved the passage of ships through the strait bound for China and other Asian countries.
Iran also said it had shot down an “enemy” F-15 fighter jet that was flying over the country’s southern coast. A video of the alleged attack was released by the Iranian News Agency this Sunday, 22.
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3. Iran threatens to attack Gulf power plants
Iran also stated that it will “completely destroy” companies in the Middle East that have US participation and will consider energy installations in countries that host US bases as “legitimate targets”.
4. Israel attacks strategic bridge in Lebanon
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Israel’s defense minister said on Sunday he had ordered the military to step up the destruction of bridges and homes in southern Lebanon, reinforcing fears about Israel’s efforts to expand and consolidate a military-controlled buffer zone in the region.
Israel has been fighting Hezbollah, the Lebanese armed group backed by Iran. Hezbollah launched rockets and drones against Israel, which responded with a major military campaign in Lebanon.
5. Netanyahu promises to ‘personally attack’ every Iranian leader
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Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu promised to “personally” attack all Iranian leaders. He also stated that the entire country is “the front line” in the conflict. The statements were made this Sunday, 22, during a visit to a place hit by an Iranian missile.
“The entire nation is a front line, the entire rear is a front line. And when we are on the front line, we carry out those orders,” he said.
“We’re going after the regime. We’re going after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, this gang of criminals,” he said in the city of Arad, in southern Israel, the target on the eve of an Iranian missile attack.
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At least 100 people were injured on Saturday night in Arad, southern Israel, after an Iranian attack. Shortly before, the city of Dimona, which is home to nuclear facilities, was also hit by a missile. Israeli rescue teams reported around 30 injuries in this city.
6. Deaths in war are a scandal, says pope
Pope Leo XIV said this Sunday that he continues to “observe with dismay the situation in the Middle East, as well as in other regions of the world devastated by war and violence”, he declared.
“The death and pain caused by these wars are a scandal for the entire human family and a cry before God”, he continued.
7. Dangerous phase of the war, warns WHO
The World Health Organization (WHO) said the war in the Middle East has entered a “dangerous phase” with attacks near nuclear facilities in Iran and Israel.
“Attacks against nuclear facilities constitute a growing threat to public health and environmental security,” said WHO director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on the X social network.
8. Iran launched 400 missiles at Israel
Iran has launched more than 400 ballistic missiles at Israel since the start of the war, 92% of which have been intercepted, an Israeli army spokesman said.
Since February 28, when Israel and the United States attacked Iran, the Islamic Republic has “launched more than 400 ballistic missiles” against Israel, said Nadav Shoshani, with “four direct hits.”
9. Death in northern Israel in attack from Lebanon
One person died in northern Israel due to a rocket fired from Lebanon, rescuers and the Israeli army announced. The attack was claimed by Hezbollah.
10. Night attacks on US hub at Baghdad airport
An American diplomatic and logistics center at Iraq’s Baghdad international airport was attacked eight times overnight on Saturday, an Iraqi security official said.
11. Three missiles hit the capital of Saudi Arabia
Three ballistic missiles were detected near Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, the Ministry of Defense said. “One missile was intercepted and the other two fell in uninhabited areas,” said a spokesperson.
