In a bold move on Tuesday, Iran urged its younger citizens to encircle its power facilities with human chains. This comes in response to President Trump’s stark warning that he would target Iran’s energy sector unless the nation reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
Alireza Rahimi, who serves as the secretary of the Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, emphasized the significance of these power plants in a video broadcast on state television. “These power plants are national treasures, belonging to the youth and the bright future of Iran, irrespective of political affiliations,” he declared.
The Iranian government has extended an invitation to students, artists, and athletes, urging them to participate in forming these human shields starting at 2 p.m. local time.
“Our hope is that by drawing on the enthusiasm of young people nationwide, we can create a human chain around the power plants,” Rahimi added. “This act will symbolize the youth’s dedication to safeguarding the country’s infrastructure and contributing to a prosperous future.”
The Iranian regime, notorious for its aggressive tactics, faces allegations of enlisting children as young as 12 in their “Homeland Defending Combatants for Iran” initiative.
Amnesty International has corroborated reports with photographs showing minors armed with AK-style rifles, standing alongside members of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps at various checkpoints and during public demonstrations.
The desperate calls come after Trump promised to obliterate Tehran’s energy infrastructure if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reached by 8 p.m.
“We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again,” he told reporters Monday.
“I mean complete demolition by 12 o’clock.”
Trump reiterated his threat to bomb Iran back to the Stone Ages, but said he didn’t want to target the country’s infrastructure.
“Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No,” he said.
“It will take them 100 years to rebuild right now, if we left today, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country, and it would never be as good as it was.”
Trump seemed downplay any claims targeting power plants would amount to war crimes.
“You know what’s a war crime? Allowing a sick country with demented leadership to have a nuclear weapon,” he said.
With the clock ticking, Iran reportedly put forward a 10 point ceasefire plan, which one US official described as “maximalist,” Axios reported.
President Trump branded it a “significant step” but said it was “not good enough,” the New York Times reported.
Tehran has threatened to retaliate if the US targets its energy infrastructure.
“The rulers of Arab countries should in order to prevent the region from going dark, make Trump understand that the Persian Gulf is not a place of gambling,” Aliakbar Velayati, a senior adviser to the Ayatollah, wrote on X.
With Post wires
