TEHRAN — In the face of a desperate ultimatum from Washington threatening to "obliterate" Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed, Iranian officials and prominent figures have issued resolute warnings emphasizing defensive necessity and readiness for proportional escalation, while condemning Trump's reckless threats of renewed aggression against civilians.

President Masoud Pezeshkian issued a powerful rebuke on Sunday, declaring on X that "the illusion of erasing Iran from the map shows desperation and helplessness in the face of a history-making nation's will."

He clarified that while the Strait of Hormuz remains open to the ships of most nations, it is strictly closed to those who aggress against Iranian soil, vowing to "firmly confront delirious ramblings and reckless threats on the battlefield."

This executive resolve is matched by the legislative and military branches.

Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, warned that if Iranian power plants are hit, all "vital infrastructure and energy/oil infrastructure across the entire region" will be considered legitimate targets.

Qalibaf emphasized that these facilities would be "irreversibly destroyed," ensuring that global oil prices remain at record highs for years.

He invoked a Quranic mandate, stating: "Throw what is in your right hand; it will swallow up what they have made," symbolizing the Resistance's ability to consume the aggressors' schemes.

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters has already outlined a precise "punishment plan."

First, the Strait of Hormuz will be completely sealed until every Iranian power plant is rebuilt.

Second, the Israel’s entire electricity, energy, and ICT infrastructure will be targeted.

Third, regional companies with American shareholders will face destruction.

Finally, any nation hosting U.S. bases that participates in aggression will see its own power stations neutralized.

The headquarters affirmed that "everything is ready for a grand jihad" to eradicate U.S. economic interests in the Middle East.

A critical component of this retaliation is the region's extreme vulnerability regarding water security, especially in the countries that host U.S. bases attacking Iran.

In the United Arab Emirates, desalinated water accounts for over 80% of drinking water.

Qatar and Bahrain are virtually 100% reliant on desalination, with Bahrain's groundwater reserved only for emergencies.

Saudi Arabia, despite its size, still draws 50% of its supply from these plants.

Because these desalination plants require massive amounts of electricity, a strike on the regional power grid would not only bring darkness but an immediate, life-threatening thirst to those who host American aggression.

This domestic resolve inside Iran is echoed by First Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref, who slammed Trump’s shift from feigned "friendship" to threatening civilian lives, stating that "a nation stands together" when its sovereignty is at stake.

Minister of Energy Abbas Ali Abadi reminded the world that attacking a power plant is no different than attacking a school or hospital, representing a violation of the Geneva Conventions.

Meanwhile, former Communications Minister Mohammad Javad Azari Jahromi suggested that Trump’s erratic behavior is a distraction from domestic scandals, including the Epstein documents, with the Iranian people being forced to pay for the "evil actions" of American politicians.

As economist Majod Shakeri succinctly put it: "Forcing the Strait of Hormuz open will only close it tighter."