Iran calls for human chains to protect power plants as Trump's deadline nears

Key Points:

• Airstrikes targeted Tehran and other parts of Iran amid escalating tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump set a firm deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe strikes on its infrastructure, including power plants and bridges.
• Iran called on young people to form human chains around power plants to protect them, with President Masoud Pezeshkian stating that 14 million Iranians volunteered to fight, reflecting heightened national mobilization.
• International leaders, including France and the U.N., warned that U.S. strikes on civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes and urged restraint to avoid further escalation and regional destabilization.
• Iran retaliated with missile attacks on Saudi Arabia and Israel, prompting Saudi Arabia to temporarily close the King Fahd Causeway, a critical bridge linking Saudi Arabia to Bahrain and the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet.
• Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has severely impacted global oil markets, pushing Brent crude prices above $108 per barrel, while diplomatic efforts mediated by Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey continue amid Iran’s demand for sanctions relief linked to reopening the strait.