Cyprus Times

Iran Issues Ultimatum to Trump: Desalination Plants Will Be Targeted, Threatening Humanitarian Disaster

Published March 22, 2026, 07:06
Iran Issues Ultimatum to Trump: Desalination Plants Will Be Targeted, Threatening Humanitarian Disaster

Iran has responded to threats from Donald Trump regarding attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure by threatening retaliatory strikes on US and Israeli energy facilities, including desalination plants crucial for Gulf countries. This threat is seen as coercion towards Arab nations in the region, which rely entirely on desalination for drinking water. Furthermore, Iran warned of massive cyberattacks against the US and its allies. Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Bakai stated that Tehran will not show restraint as long as attacks against it continue. Iran retaliated against US-Israeli strikes by hitting cities in southern Israel, such as Dimona (home to a nuclear research center) and Arad, causing injuries. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the situation as a "difficult night of combat" and announced an increase in Israeli attacks against Iran. The situation is escalating against the backdrop of Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz. The threat to attack desalination plants raises serious concerns about a potential humanitarian disaster, as Gulf countries depend on them to meet basic water needs. The situation remains tense, and the possibility of further escalation is real.