Iran’s parliamentary speaker has warned that energy infrastructure across the Middle East could face irreversible damage if the United States targets Iran’s power supplies. In a first message shared on the Telegram app, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf said that if Iranian power plants are attacked, key facilities across the region would be “irreversibly destroyed”, adding that oil prices would “remain high for a long time.”

The commander is reported to have “spoken the final word”. In a furious Truth Social post on Saturday, the US President said: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST.” Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organization, Ali Mousavi, has said vessels – except those belonging to what he described as “enemies” – may pass through the Strait of Hormuz if they coordinate in advance with Iranian authorities to ensure safety and security.

Ghalibaf also posted on his official X account, further warning about retaliatory strikes on regional energy facilities.

He said: “Immediately after the power plants and infrastructure in our country are targeted, the critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities throughout the region will be considered legitimate targets and will be destroyed in an irreversible manner, and the price of oil will remain high for a long time.

“And throw down what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have made.”

Following Israeli strikes on the South Pars gasfield, Iranian forces promised ‘total destruction’ were reported to have carried out retaliatory missile and drone attacks on oil and gas infrastructure in several Gulf states.

Two ballistic missiles were reportedly launched at the joint UK-US military base in the Indian Ocean.

One missile is said to have failed during flight while the other was intercepted by a US warship.

Israel has since warned that major European cities including London, Paris and Berlin could be within range of Iranian missiles.

A spokesperson for the Israel Defense Forces said the “Iranian terrorist regime poses a global threat”.

Diego Garcia lies around 3,800km (2,360 miles) from Iran, making it one of the longest-range targets linked to the current escalation.

The strategically important base – home to about 2,500 mainly American personnel – has been used for decades as a launch point for military operations across the Middle East.

The Ministry of Defence condemned the attempted strike, saying “Iran’s reckless attacks… are a threat to British interests and British allies.”