Iran Calls Human Shields Around Power Plants as Trump’s 48-Hour Ultimatum Expires
As the deadline to reopen Strait of Hormuz runs out, Tehran mobilises youth, artists and athletes to form human chains around energy infrastructure while US claims 13,000 Iranian targets struck
With Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum to Iran expiring Wednesday morning, Tehran has called on its citizens — students, artists and athletes — to form human chains around power plants across the country on April 7, with Deputy Minister for Youth Affairs Alireza Rahimi declaring that attacking public infrastructure is a war crime. The move comes as US Central Command claimed to have struck over 13,000 targets inside Iran and damaged or destroyed more than 155 Iranian vessels. Israel, meanwhile, carried out fresh aerial strikes on Tehran and other key infrastructure sites, while Iran fired missiles at Israel’s Petah Tikva and Haifa, killing four people including a Filipino woman. Bahrain sounded air raid sirens and advised residents to seek shelter, while UAE said its air defence systems were actively intercepting Iranian missiles and drones. Iran’s parliament speaker’s adviser Mahdi Mohammadi warned Trump that he had hours left to either stand down or watch his allies be eliminated, as New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon cautioned that military threats would not end the conflict. The UN Security Council is scheduled to vote Tuesday on a resolution demanding Iran halt attacks on commercial shipping through Hormuz, while Lebanon reported over 1.1 million displaced — nearly a fifth of its population.
