US pounds Iran as Tehran threatens to ‘crush’ Middle East infrastructure
American forces conducted strikes for a sixth straight night, and boarded a ship to enforce the US naval blockade
It signalled an apparent expansion of American strikes with a focus on Iranian infrastructure, which US President Donald Trump has previously threatened to hit, but there was no immediate comment from US officials.
The Iranian energy ministry on Friday told citizens to reduce their electricity use and switch off air conditioners in peak hours – even as temperatures in some areas soared – after the power grid came under strain from what it said were US strikes on energy facilities in the south.
Iran’s military had threatened “all infrastructure across the region” in the event of any attacks on its own, and on Friday launched widespread strikes in what appeared to be the largest exchange of fire since the deal was signed last month.