Mar 22, 2026, 4:46 p.mMar 22, 2026, 4:46 p.m
An ultimatum from US President Donald Trump to Iran threatens to further expand the war in the Persian Gulf. If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the USA would attack and destroy Iran’s power plants, “starting with the largest!” Trump announced on Sunday night Central European time.
Iran countered: If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked, the Iranian military will target all energy infrastructure and desalination plants with ties to the US throughout the Gulf region, the Fars news agency, which is close to the Revolutionary Guards, quoted a spokesman as saying.
Conflict over Hormuz threatens global economy
This threatens to escalate the war that began three weeks ago between the USA and Israel – with unforeseeable consequences for the region and the global economy. The conflict over the Strait of Hormuz is already having an enormous impact on global markets.
Donald Trump gave Iran an ultimatum: either open the Strait of Hormuz or the USA would attack Iran’s power plants.Image: keystone
The Strait of Hormuz is the only connection between the Persian Gulf and the world’s oceans and is considered one of the most important shipping routes in the world. Around a fifth of the world’s oil demand is transported through the passage. Most of it goes to China, India and other Asian countries. About 20 percent of the world’s liquefied natural gas trade also passes through the strait.
As a result of the American-Israeli attacks in Iran, Tehran has repeatedly threatened to attack ships there. Shipping traffic has practically come to a standstill. People in Germany are feeling the effects, among other things, when filling up because the prices for gasoline and diesel have risen sharply. Experts suspect that food could also become more expensive.
Threat to Europe from Iranian missiles?
After the Iranian missile attack on the US-British base at Diego Garcia, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urged other countries to join the fight against Iran. “What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world must be stopped?” he asked during a visit to the Israeli desert city of Arad. It is time “for the heads of state and government of the other countries to join in,” said Netanyahu, without naming specific states.
The Diego Garcia base is located around 4,000 kilometers southeast of the Iranian coast – about twice as far away as the previously officially confirmed range of the Iranian missile arsenal. According to US media, the two rockets did not hit the base. Accordingly, one failed during flight and one was intercepted.
With such a range, Iranian medium-range missiles could theoretically reach cities in Germany and other European countries.
Security expert Carlo Masala pointed out to “Bild” that Germany bought the Arrow 3 missile defense system from Israel as a consequence of the war in Ukraine. This is precisely there to combat such missiles. The Bundeswehr put the first of three planned locations into operation in December.
Attacks on Israel with cluster munitions – more than 100 injured
Meanwhile, there were new rocket attacks in Israel. According to medics, 15 people were injured in an Iranian attack on the coastal metropolis of Tel Aviv. An army spokesman said Iran had again used cluster munitions. A missile containing cluster munitions often breaks up in mid-air over the target and then disperses submunitions, also called bomblets, over a large area.
Over the weekend, more than 100 people were injured, dozens of them seriously, in Iranian rocket attacks on the two southern Israeli desert cities of Dimona and Arad. Iranian attacks on Gulf states also continued.
As usual, there was little information in Iran about specific American-Israeli attacks against the country. According to official information, more than 1,500 people have been killed since the war began at the end of February. State broadcaster Irib reported that 21,000 more people were injured, citing the Ministry of Health.
Trump: Iran “wiped off the map”
Trump defended his previous war record. In response to an analysis by “New York Times” author David Sanger, according to which the US President has not yet achieved many of his own war goalsTrump defiantly wrote back on his Truth Social platform: “Yes, I did, and weeks earlier than planned!” The USA had “wiped Iran off the map.” The country no longer has any leadership, the navy and air force have been destroyed.
Iran wants to conclude a deal, Trump confirmed. “I do not want that! We are weeks ahead of schedule,” the US President continued. He had previously said he was considering scaling back attacks in Iran. At the same time, according to media reports, the USA is sending thousands more soldiers to the region.
Iran continues to be combative. According to the state broadcasting agency Iribnews, the Revolutionary Guards’ secret service said it had analyzed the “enemy’s vulnerable points” and was preparing a new wave of attacks “with new strategies and more modern systems.” (sda/dpa)