Iran threatens Gulf power cuts if US strikes its power plants

Iran has warned that it could leave the Persian Gulf region without electricity if the United States attacks its power plants, LRT reported, citing AFP and two regional officials.

The officials said Iran had also provided a list of potential targets. They spoke anonymously to discuss sensitive matters.

The warning followed threats by US President Donald Trump to launch a large-scale attack on Iran. Trump later withdrew the threat over the weekend after requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, as well as hopes that negotiations could make progress.

Iranian representatives conveyed through intermediaries that any strikes on its power plants would trigger retaliatory attacks on similar targets in the Persian Gulf, the officials said. One regional official described the latest warning as “very serious” and said it included a “long list” of targets.

The official said the list included power plants and water desalination facilities, on which the largely desert region depends heavily. Iran had previously issued similar public threats.

In mid-July, Trump threatened to destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran responded by warning of an “eye for an eye” retaliation.

After Trump withdrew the threat of strikes, Saudi Arabia said Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had spoken with the US president by telephone in an effort to ease regional tensions.

The Persian Gulf region has suffered the most from Iranian attacks during the war in the Middle East. The strikes targeted both US assets and civilian infrastructure, including energy facilities, ports and airports. Isolated attacks continued after ceasefires were agreed in April and a subsequent memorandum of understanding was reached in June. After the ceasefire collapsed in July, exchanges of fire became more intense and frequent, mainly targeting Kuwait and Bahrain.