Iran Calls for Human Chains to Protect Power Plants as Trump's Deadline Nears

Key Points:

• Airstrikes struck Tehran amid escalating tensions as U.S. President Donald Trump set a firm deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to destroy Iranian power plants and infrastructure if demands are not met.
• Iran called on citizens, including youth and students, to form human chains around power plants to protect national assets, with President Masoud Pezeshkian stating that 14 million people have volunteered to fight.
• International leaders, including France and the U.N., warned that U.S. attacks on civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes and escalate regional conflict, urging restraint.
• Iran responded to airstrikes by firing ballistic missiles at Saudi Arabia and Israel, leading to the temporary closure of the King Fahd Causeway linking Saudi Arabia and Bahrain, and further destabilizing the region.
• Diplomatic talks continue amid rejection of the U.S. ceasefire proposal by Iran, with mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey attempting to negotiate a deal before the deadline; Iran links reopening the strait to sanctions relief, while the U.S. is open to easing some sanctions to stabilize the global oil market.