RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Iran has intensified its threats toward Gulf neighbors, warning that it would "black out" the entire region country by country if the United States strikes its power plants, according to two officials who spoke to AFP.

The warnings came after US President Donald Trump threatened a massive attack on Iran, describing planned strikes as potentially "the biggest attack since World War II." Trump later called off the strikes, citing requests from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar, and hopes for diplomatic progress.

"Iran threatened to black out the Gulf, country by country, if Trump attacked its power plants," a Gulf official told AFP, with another regional official confirming the message. Both officials spoke anonymously due to the sensitivity of the matter.

Iran reportedly conveyed through intermediaries that any attacks on its power plants would trigger retaliatory strikes on similar targets in the Gulf. The Gulf official described the new threat as "very serious," noting it included "a long list of targets they would attack."

The targets mentioned include power plants and water desalination facilities, critical infrastructure for the mostly desert Gulf region that relies heavily on desalinated water.

Following the cancellation of the US strikes, Saudi Arabia announced that Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman had spoken with President Trump in a call aimed at reducing regional tensions.

This escalation follows earlier threats in mid-July when Trump warned he would destroy an Iranian bridge or power plant for every attack on shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, prompting Tehran to issue warnings of its own.

Sources