For weeks, U.S. President Donald Trump has been trying to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas are shipped. Energy prices have soared, demonstrating Iran’s main leverage point in the war: its ability to inflict damage on the global economy.
It was against this backdrop that Mr. Trump issued an ultimatum: By 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, Iran had to reopen the strait or a “whole civilization will die,” he said, adding, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” Hours later, he pulled back from those threats when Iran, the United States and Israel agreed to a two-week ceasefire. But on Wednesday, attacks in Iran and Gulf Arab countries resumed, throwing the deal into question.
Universities, hospitals and bridges in Iran have already been damaged by U.S. and Israeli air strikes. But Mr. Trump had threatened to go further by targeting power and water desalination plants and oil installations. If the U.S. carried out its threats, that would represent a significant escalation in the war, which began Feb. 28.
The impact of such an escalation on 90 million Iranians would be devastating. UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that attacks on civilian infrastructure are banned under international law.
Here’s an overview of the damage so far and the key locations of Iran’s energy and transportation network.
Power plants
Iran has 477 power plants, most of which use gas. The country’s one nuclear power plant, Bushehr, has a capacity of 1,000 megawatts. According to the World Bank, 100 per cent of Iran’s population has access to electricity.
Key bridges and railroad stations
Bridges, railroads and the country’s 360 railway stations comprise a vital transportation network that connects millions of Iranians and is used to transport goods across the country. Tehran and the cities of Mashhad and Qom are major urban centres with interlinked transportation networks.
In addition to the damaged B1 bridge, Karaj lost power in some areas due to air strikes on a substation and transmission lines.Majid Saeedi/Getty Images
Key oil and gas infrastructure
Iran has some of the largest proven deposits of oil and natural gas in the world. In 2023, it had 24 per cent of the Middle East’s oil reserves and 12 per cent of the world’s. Despite years of Western sanctions, the country is highly reliant on fossil fuels, so attacking these sites would further devastate the economy. Kharg Island, Iran’s main export hub, is a significant target.
With reports from The Associated Press
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Hormuz is not the only strait worth worrying about in the Middle East, explains Thomas Juneau, an expert on Yemen at the University of Ottawa. He spoke with The Decibel about the Bab el-Mandeb, Iran’s threats to restrict it and the role of their Houthi allies in doing that. Subscribe for more episodes.
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How oil built and defined the Gulf before disrupting it
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