Iran threatens strikes on Middle East energy facilities and water desalination plants

The conflict is no longer confined to military bases. Critical infrastructure such as energy, electricity and water facilities is increasingly becoming a target. As both sides continue exchanging attacks, concerns are mounting over the safety of key infrastructure across the Middle East.

In a statement issued Friday, Iran said it would destroy regional energy and water supply infrastructure if the United States continues its attacks.

An Iranian military source said the country has prepared a phased retaliatory operation in response to US strikes on its civilian infrastructure. If Washington does not immediately halt its attacks, Iran will implement the plan with the objective of completely destroying energy and water desalination infrastructure across the Middle East.

The source also claimed that, in the first phase of the plan, all power plants and seawater desalination facilities in Kuwait have been identified as potential targets.

Meanwhile, Iran’s provincial council said the United States carried out attacks on power facilities and water pumping stations in Hormozgan Province in southern Iran. The strikes in the Jask port area disrupted water supplies in several regions.

According to the provincial council, three more bridges were damaged in the past several hours of attacks, including a bridge near the city of Minab. The bridge over the Shur River on the Bandar Abbas–Sirjan highway was also struck. In addition, the Shahid Mirzayi Tunnel in Bandar Abbas has been closed from both directions.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that four communications network hubs in Hormozgan Province were damaged in the attacks.

The United States also carried out a strike Saturday morning in an area of Dashti County in the southern province of Bushehr. However, no casualties have been reported there.

In a statement posted on X, the Iranian Embassy in India alleged that US missiles struck power facilities and a seawater desalination pumping station at the jetty in Bunji village of Jask County. As a result, the supply of drinking water to several villages in western Jask has been disrupted. Tehran described the attack as a ‘war crime.’

Meanwhile, Qatar condemned Iran’s recent attacks on Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait. Doha said the attacks constitute a clear violation of the sovereignty of those countries and of international law, warning that they would further escalate regional tensions.