In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned Tehran to restore access to the strategic shipping lane, which Iran has effectively closed since hostilities intensified. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” he wrote, linking potential military action directly to the disruption of maritime traffic through the strait.

The president’s remarks, delivered in forceful language, underscored the growing pressure on Iran amid ongoing military exchanges. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical artery for global energy supplies, and its closure has heightened concerns over disruptions to oil shipments and broader economic repercussions.

Trump also said he would hold a news conference on Monday in the Oval Office following a U.S. military operation that rescued two American pilots whose aircraft had been downed in Iran. Details of the rescue mission were not elaborated in the statement.

The threat of strikes on infrastructure marks a potential widening of targets beyond military assets, signaling an escalation in U.S. strategy as tensions persist in the region. Iran has not publicly responded to Trump’s latest warning.

The developments come amid continued fighting involving U.S. and Israeli forces and Iranian targets, with both sides reporting damage to infrastructure and military assets over the past month.

Humanitarian groups said the conflict has forced them to reroute shipments through longer and more expensive pathways, with transport costs rising sharply due to increased fuel prices and insurance premiums.

The disruption has compounded existing financial strain following reductions in U.S. foreign aid.The World Food Programme said tens of thousands of metric tons of food are currently delayed in transit.

The International Rescue Committee reported that pharmaceuticals intended for Sudan are stranded in Dubai, while hundreds of boxes of therapeutic food meant for malnourished children in Somalia remain stuck in India.

The United Nations Population Fund said it has also delayed shipments of medical equipment to 16 countries, underscoring the scale of the disruption.The United Nations described the situation as the most significant supply chain shock since the COVID-19 pandemic, with costs increasing by up to 20% as shipments are rerouted and delayed.

Aid agencies are increasingly relying on a combination of land, air and sea transport to bypass affected routes. UNICEF said it has shifted vaccine deliveries to Iran via Turkiye by air and road, adding about 10 days to delivery times and increasing costs by roughly 20%.

Save the Children said it has altered supply routes to Sudan, including overland transport through Saudi Arabia and barge crossings of the Red Sea, increasing delivery times by about 10 days and costs by approximately 25%.

The delays risk disrupting supplies to more than 90 primary health care facilities in Sudan.The Doctors Without Borders said rising fuel prices in Somalia have increased transport and food costs, limiting access to care for populations already facing severe food insecurity.Aid groups warned that the impact on global hunger could worsen significantly.

The World Food Programme said that if the conflict continues through June, an additional 45 million people could face acute hunger, adding to nearly 320 million already affected worldwide.The disruption also threatens agricultural production, with around 30% of global fertilizer supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

Countries such as Sudan and Kenya rely heavily on imports from the Gulf, raising concerns about planting seasons in regions including East Africa and South Asia.

The United Nations said it has established a task force to facilitate fertilizer trade, but aid agencies cautioned that without a ceasefire and increased funding, humanitarian operations may struggle to meet rising needs.

The United States said it remains a leading contributor to global humanitarian assistance and announced an additional $50 million in emergency aid to Lebanon, including support for the World Food Programme, as it works with international partners to address the growing crisis.

The strike occurred before dawn in an eastern neighborhood of the city, according to the civil defense agency, which operates under the Hamas-run administration in the territory.

Al-Shifa hospital said four bodies and five wounded people were brought in after an Israeli drone fired two missiles at a group of civilians. The casualty figures were consistent with those reported by the civil defense agency.

The Israel military said it was reviewing the reports when contacted for comment.The incident comes despite a ceasefire that took effect on October 10, though strikes have continued intermittently.

Gaza’s health ministry says at least 715 people have been killed in the territory since the truce began, a figure the United Nations considers reliable.Israel has reported five of its soldiers killed since the ceasefire took hold.

Access restrictions and media limitations in Gaza have made independent verification of casualty figures difficult.

Hamas and Israel have repeatedly accused each other of violating the ceasefire, which had largely halted nearly two years of conflict in the territory.

In a statement, the Iran-backed group said the vessel was struck about 68 nautical miles from the Lebanese coast, alleging it had been preparing to launch attacks on Lebanese territory.

There was no immediate confirmation from the Israeli military regarding the claim.Israeli naval forces have been involved in operations against targets in Lebanon in recent weeks, including using warships to carry out strikes along the coastline as hostilities with Hezbollah intensified.

The reported attack underscores a potential expansion of the conflict into the maritime domain, as cross-border hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah continue alongside the broader regional war involving Iran and its allies.

Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty held separate calls with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, the ministry said in a statement, focusing on proposals aimed at reducing hostilities across the region.

The discussions come amid intensified diplomatic engagement by regional actors seeking to contain the conflict, which has disrupted energy flows and heightened geopolitical risks.

Turkiye and Pakistan have also taken on intermediary roles, with Islamabad recently hosting talks on de-escalation measures and proposals to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for global oil and gas shipments.

Egypt’s outreach reflects growing concern among regional powers over the potential for further escalation and the economic impact of prolonged disruptions, particularly on energy markets and trade routes.

The three soldiers, serving with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon, died in two incidents last week amid ongoing hostilities between Israeli forces and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.

Farizal Rhomadhon, 28, was killed on March 29 when a projectile exploded, while Zulmi Aditya Iskandar, 33, and Muhammad Nur Ichwan, 26, died a day later after a blast struck a UNIFIL logistics convoy, according to Indonesian authorities.

The soldiers were buried with full military honors in their hometowns, with coffins draped in the national flag and gun salutes marking the ceremonies. Family members gathered to mourn, scattering flower petals at the graves.

Zulmi was buried in a military cemetery in Bandung, West Java, while the other two were laid to rest in Central Java and Yogyakarta. Speaking after the funeral, Zulmi’s father said he accepted his son’s death with pride despite the loss.

Indonesian National Armed Forces commander Agus Subiyanto said the government had prepared compensation and entitlements for the families, including payments from the United Nations, in recognition of the soldiers’ service.

The bodies of the three peacekeepers arrived in Jakarta on Saturday and were received with military honors in a ceremony attended by President Prabowo Subianto, who condemned the attacks and described them as acts that undermine peace.

Indonesia’s Foreign Ministry called the incidents “unacceptable” and urged the United Nations Security Council to convene troop-contributing countries to review the situation and enhance protection for UN personnel.

Foreign Minister Sugiono also called for a thorough United Nations investigation into the attacks and demanded improved security arrangements for peacekeeping forces operating in southern Lebanon.

The funerals come days after another explosion at a UN facility near El Adeisse injured three additional Indonesian peacekeepers, underscoring mounting risks to international forces deployed in the area.

The Israeli military said the Masnaa crossing was being used by Hezbollah for transferring combat equipment, and warned that strikes on the site were imminent. Military spokesman Avichay Adraee called on residents and travelers to leave the area immediately.

A Lebanese security source confirmed that the crossing was being evacuated following the warning. On the Syrian side, the crossing known as Jdeidet Yabous was described by border authorities as strictly civilian, with officials denying any military use and announcing a temporary suspension of traffic for safety reasons.

The Masnaa crossing is Lebanon’s primary land route to Syria and a key corridor for trade and civilian movement. Israel previously struck the crossing in October 2024 during earlier hostilities with Hezbollah, forcing its closure until repairs were completed after a ceasefire.

The warning comes amid intensified Israeli operations across Lebanon since March 2, when Hezbollah joined the broader regional conflict alongside its ally Iran. Israeli forces have since conducted widespread airstrikes and ground operations in southern Lebanon.

Lebanon’s health ministry said an Israeli strike on Maaraka near the southern city of Tyre killed five people and wounded one. Earlier strikes in Habbush killed two girls and wounded 22 others, while an attack on Al-Hawsh injured 18 people and damaged a nearby hospital, according to official statements.

Despite evacuation warnings covering much of southern Lebanon, tens of thousands of residents have fled Tyre, though about 20,000 people remain, including many displaced from surrounding villages.Lebanese state media reported additional Israeli strikes across the country, including on infrastructure in the West Bekaa region, where a bridge was destroyed after repeated attacks.

The Israeli military said it had struck more than 140 Hezbollah targets over the previous two days.Hezbollah said it carried out retaliatory attacks on northern Israeli towns and Israeli forces near the border, including in Marun Al-Ras and other southern Lebanese locations.

The conflict has displaced more than one million people in Lebanon and killed over 1,400, including medical personnel and UN peacekeepers, according to Lebanese authorities. A United Nations security official said Israeli forces also destroyed surveillance cameras linked to the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon headquarters in Naqura.

The peacekeeping mission has been caught in escalating cross-border hostilities, as Israeli forces push deeper into southern Lebanon and Hezbollah continues attacks into northern Israel.

Iran’s central military command rejected the ultimatum, with General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi describing Trump’s warning as destabilizing and vowing retaliation. “The gates of hell will open for you,” he said, echoing the language used by the U.S. president in recent statements.

Authorities in Abu Dhabi said multiple fires broke out at the Borouge Petrochemicals facility in Ruwais after debris from intercepted projectiles struck the site. Operations at the plant, a joint venture involving Abu Dhabi National Oil Co., were suspended pending damage assessment, with no injuries reported.

The UAE Defense Ministry said its air defence systems were actively engaging missile and drone threats, without specifying their origin. In Bahrain, Bapco Energies reported that a storage tank caught fire following an attack, though the blaze was later contained and no casualties were recorded.

In Kuwait, a fire erupted at the Shuwaikh oil sector complex, which houses key energy infrastructure including the headquarters of Kuwait Petroleum Corporation. State media reported material damage and the shutdown of two power and water units, with no casualties.

The Israeli military said missiles launched from Iran targeted its territory, while also reporting a separate missile fired from Yemen, marking the fifth such launch since the start of the conflict. Air defence systems were activated to intercept incoming threats.

The escalation underscores the widening scope of a conflict that began with U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28 and has since spread across the region. Iran has maintained restrictions on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, while targeting economic infrastructure in Gulf states it associates with the U.S.-Israeli campaign.

Trump reiterated his ultimatum in a post on Truth Social, warning that time was running out for Iran to comply. He also released a video referencing strikes in Tehran that he said killed multiple Iranian military leaders, though he did not provide details on timing or verification.

Separately, Iranian media reported that U.S.-Israeli strikes in Ardabil province in the country’s northwest killed three people and wounded three others, citing a local official.

Iran’s military command said Iraqi vessels would be allowed to transit the Strait of Hormuz despite broader restrictions, describing Iraq as exempt from measures imposed on what it termed “enemy countries.”

ElBaradei, who led the International Atomic Energy Agency from 1997 to 2009, made the appeal in a post on X, urging regional governments to act before the situation deteriorates further. “Do everything in your power before this madman turns the region into a ball of fire,” he wrote, referring to Trump’s recent threats against Tehran.

In a separate post, ElBaradei questioned whether international actors could halt the escalation, tagging the United Nations, the European Union, as well as Emmanuel Macron, and the foreign ministries of China and Russia.

Trump has warned that Iran must either reach an agreement with Washington or reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route that has been effectively blocked since the outbreak of war following U.S.-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28. In a post on Truth Social, Trump reiterated that Iran faces a 48-hour deadline or risk severe military consequences.

The remarks come amid intensifying hostilities in the region, with ongoing strikes and countermeasures raising concerns over broader instability and disruption to global energy supplies.

ElBaradei, an Egyptian diplomat and former vice president, led the IAEA during the early years of international scrutiny over Iran’s nuclear program. He and the agency were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2005 for efforts to promote the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The rescued officer was the second member of a two-person crew aboard an F-15 aircraft that Iran said it had shot down using its air defense systems. U.S. officials did not provide operational details of the recovery mission, and the Pentagon did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

Trump confirmed the recovery in a post on his Truth Social platform, describing the operation as one of the most complex search-and-rescue efforts conducted by U.S. forces in hostile territory. He said the airman, a senior officer, had been injured but was in stable condition and under monitoring.

“This is the first time in military memory that two U.S. pilots have been rescued, separately, deep in enemy territory,” Trump wrote, adding that the operation was carried out without U.S. casualties.The first crew member had already been recovered earlier, according to a Reuters report on Friday.

The aircraft was brought down amid ongoing hostilities between U.S. and Iranian forces following the outbreak of war on February 28.The developments come as Washington escalates its demands on Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy corridor that typically handles around 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments.

Iran’s effective closure of the waterway has contributed to a growing energy crisis and heightened volatility in global markets.Trump reiterated that Iran faces a narrowing window to comply, stating that less than 48 hours remained before potential U.S. action.

His recent messaging has alternated between references to possible diplomatic progress and explicit threats of large-scale military strikes, including against Iran’s power infrastructure.The conflict has already resulted in thousands of deaths and significant disruption across the region, with mounting concerns over long-term economic damage and supply chain instability linked to restricted energy flows through the Gulf.

Iran has not publicly commented on the rescue operation but has previously stated that it deployed newly developed air defense systems in targeting U.S. aircraft operating in its airspace.