Israel is preparing a large-scale attack on Iran's energy facilities, but is waiting for US approval to carry out the move, a senior Israeli source told Reuters.
According to the report, Israel has drawn up a comprehensive plan to strike the Islamic Republic's electricity grid, power stations, and oil pumping and refining facilities, with the aim of damaging the country's economy.
Israel has so far refrained from launching an all-out attack on refineries and power stations in Iran, and the US also expressed dissatisfaction over an Israeli strike on oil facilities last month. On Saturday, Israel struck petrochemical industry facilities in western Iran, after carrying out extensive strikes against the country's steel industry last week.
At the same time, US President Donald Trump issued an unequivocal threat to Iran on Saturday, reminding the Islamic Republic that it had 48 hours left to reach an agreement with the US to end the war.
Trump, who until now had focused on diplomacy and expressed optimism about reaching an agreement with Iran, wrote in a post on his social media platform: "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to make a deal or open up the Strait of Hormuz? Time is running out, 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to God."
On March 22, Trump issued Iran an ultimatum to open the Strait of Hormuz or face a US strike on Iranian power stations. "If Iran does not fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this exact moment, the United States of America will hit and destroy its various power stations, beginning with the largest of them!" Trump wrote. The president later postponed the ultimatum, first by five days and then by 10 days, in order to allow time for negotiations that were being held with representatives of Tehran.
