Power cuts across Tehran after new Israeli strikes as Trump threatens to blow up energy sites: Live updates

by Andrew Jehring and Martin Robinson

Donald Trump has promised the 'total decimation' of Iran as reports emerged of American plans for a lengthy ground war in the Middle East with thousands of US marines arriving in the region this week.

Amid reports he is ready to send his troops, Mr Trump promised that the destruction of Iran would 'work out very good' and the rogue state is 'getting their comeuppance'.

He may seize Kharg Island, Iran’s oil terminal in the Persian Gulf, although the White House insists no final decision has been made.

Iran has ferociously rejected President Trump's ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Midnight tonight, UK time, and threatened to wipe out the entire region's energy infrastructure.

Trump warned Tehran on Saturday it had 48 hours to allow cargo through the vital global shipping lane 'without threat' or he would 'obliterate' their power plants.

But the regime hit back yesterday saying if its plants were targeted then energy infrastructure 'across the entire region' would be 'irreversibly destroyed'.

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International Energy Agency Executive Director Fatih Birol

The global economy is under 'major threat' from the energy crisis caused by the Middle East war, International Energy Agency chief Fatih Birol said.

Speaking at the National Press Club in Australia's capital, Birol warned 'no country will be immune' to its effects.

He compared the current energy crisis to those of the 1970s and the impact of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

'This crisis as things stand is now two oil crises and one gas crash put all together,' he said.

'The global economy is facing a major, major threat today, and I very much hope that this issue will be resolved as soon as possible,' Birol added.

'No country will be immune to the effects of this crisis if it continues to go in this direction. So there is a need for global efforts.'

Explosions rang out in Tehran early this morning as Israel announced it launched a fresh wave of strikes.

Iran's Fars news agency reported airstrikes had targeted five areas of the Iranian capital while Israeli military said it had 'begun a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting Iranian terror regime infrastructure'.

Israel has also expanded its ground campaign against Iran-allied Hezbollah in Lebanon, warning of a lengthy operation there.

'Citizens of Israel, we face more weeks of fighting against Iran and Hezbollah,' Israeli military spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said.

Israeli forces were given orders to destroy bridges they said were used by Hezbollah to cross the key Litani river, 30 kilometres (20 miles) north of the border.

More than 1,000 people have died in Lebanon since Israel launched strikes, according to the health ministry, with more than one million people displaced.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates reported coming under fresh attacks this morning, with explosions and sirens sounding over the oil-rich Gulf.

The Saudi Ministry of Defense said it had detected two incoming ballistic missiles targeting the capital on Monday, 'one of which was intercepted and the other fell in an uninhabited area'.

The UAE defence ministry said it was 'currently responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran', explaining 'the sounds heard are the result of the Air Defence Systems intercepting missiles and drones'.

Hours earlier, Abu Dhabi authorities reported an Indian national had been wounded by falling debris from an intercepted ballistic missile.

And sirens were sounding in Bahrain, with residents instructed to seek shelter.

'Citizens and residents are urged to remain calm and head to the nearest safe place,' the interior ministry posted on social media.

Gulf nations that have long billed themselves as oases of safety and stability in the region have been drawn into the Middle East war as Iran retaliates against US-Israeli strikes.

Iran today faces a deadline by President Donald Trump to open up the crucial Strait of Hormuz or face a major US assault on power plants, as Israel warned of weeks more of war.

Trump and Tehran traded threats as the war entered its fourth week, with the US president demanding the Islamic republic reopen the blocked Strait of Hormuz, through which some 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas shipments transit.

The bottleneck has nearly halted all petroleum shipments through the narrow waterway, and oil prices have spiked.

Trump posted late Saturday on Truth Social that US forces would 'hit and obliterate' Iranian power plants - 'starting with the biggest one first' - if Tehran did not fully reopen the strait within 48 hours, or 23:44 GMT on Monday, according to the time of his post.

In response, Iran's army said it will target energy and desalination infrastructure 'belonging to the US and the regime in the region,' according to the Fars news agency.

Shortly after the markets opened in Asia, the price of West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US benchmark crude, for May delivery was up 1.8 percent to just over $100 per barrel, before retreating slightly.

The price of North Sea Brent crude for May delivery rose at a similar rate, to $113.44 per barrel before sliding to around $111 some 45 minutes into trading.

On February 27, the day before the US-Israeli attacks began on Iran, they stood at $67.02 and $72.48 per barrel, respectively.

In Asia, South Korea's benchmark Kospi index and Japan's Nikkei sharply dropped in early trade.

The Kospi was down 4.69 percent at 5,509.88 points. The Nikkei 225 was down 3.54 percent at 51,483.91 points.

Hello and welcome to the Daily Mail's live coverage of the US-Israel war with Iran as the conflict enters its fourth week.

Over the weekend, Donald Trump and Iran traded tit-for-tat threats as the President demanded the Strait of Hormuz to be fully reopened or Tehran will face having power plants blown up.

In response Iran's army said it will target energy and desalination infrastructure 'belonging to the US and the regime in the region'.

As the deadline approaches on Trump's 48-hour ultimatum he pronounced on Saturday, we will bring you the latest developments on the war throughout the day.