TEHRAN, Aug 07 (Alliance News): Iran has reportedly warned that it would target critical power infrastructure across Gulf states if the United States launches strikes on Iranian electricity facilities, according to a report by AFP citing Gulf officials familiar with the matter.
According to the report, two senior Gulf officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Iran conveyed messages warning that any US attack on its power plants would be met with retaliatory strikes against electricity infrastructure in Gulf countries.
One Gulf official said Tehran had made it clear that power grids and other key infrastructure in Gulf states could become targets if the United States carried out military action against Iranian energy facilities.
A second regional official confirmed that similar warning messages had been communicated to several Gulf capitals.
The report further claimed that Iran had also shared a list of potential strategic targets that could be struck in response to any attack, although no details of those sites were disclosed.
According to AFP, the reported warnings have raised concerns among Gulf states because their economies, oil exports, desalination plants, communications networks and other essential services rely heavily on modern electricity infrastructure.
Neither the United States nor Iran has officially commented on the AFP report. Tehran has not confirmed or denied the reported warnings.
The development follows recent remarks by US President Donald Trump, who warned last week that Washington could launch large-scale strikes on Iran’s energy and power facilities if diplomatic negotiations failed.
Trump later indicated he had postponed immediate military action following requests from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar to allow diplomacy more time.
Diplomatic efforts involving Iran, the United States, Oman, Qatar and other regional countries are continuing in an attempt to reduce tensions, reinforce the ceasefire and reach a broader agreement, although differences reportedly remain on several key issues.
