Sky News presenter Matt Barbet halted the channel’s usual broadcast to bring viewers a breaking story that will infuriate US President Donald Trump. Interrupting the days programming he looked at camera to announce the story. “Breaking news to bring you now coming out of Iran,” he announced. “President Masoud Pezeshkian has taken to social media to post the following,” he said as the post appeared on screen.
Reading it out he said: “The illusion of erasing Iran from the map, he says, shows desperation against the will of a history making nation. Threats and terror only strengthen our unity, the Strait of Hormuz is open to all, except those who violate our soil. We firmly confront delirious threats on the battlefield,” he concluded his account. Barbet then summarised: “So that post coming from Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian, seemingly in response to Donald Trump‘s ultimatum, also issued on social media, giving Iran 48 hours to open up the Strait of Hormuz. Well, Iran says it is open to all those, except those who violate Iranian soil.”
Trump posted on Truth Social: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DONALD J. TRUMP.”
Within an hour of Trump’s threat, Iran fired back with its own ultimatum via state affiliaited news network Fars.
A spokesperson from the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters (KACHQ said: “If the enemy attacks the fuel and energy infrastructure, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructures belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted.”
KACHQ is Iran’s highest-level of military command, responsible for planning and coordinating joint operations between Iran’s and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
This follows statements from foreign ministers of G7 nations indicating they are “ready to take necessary measures to support global supply of energy”.
In a statement, they declared: “We condemn in the strongest terms the (Iran) regime’s reckless attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, including energy infrastructure, in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, and Iraq, in line with UNSC Resolution 2817. The Iranian regime’s unjustifiable attacks against these states also threaten regional and global security.
“We demand the immediate and unconditional cessation of all attacks by the Iranian regime. We reaffirm the importance of safeguarding maritime routes, and safety of navigation, including in the Strait of Hormuz and all associated critical waterways, as well as the safety and security of supply chains and the stability of energy markets.”
