Iranian missiles hit near Israel’s nuclear hub as Trump issues 48-hour Hormuz ultimatum

Strikes in Dimona, Arad mark new phase in conflict; US threatens to target Iranian power plants as global oil and security risks intensify.

Iranian missiles hit near Israel’s nuclear site as Trump gives Iran 48 hours on Hormuz. War enters dangerous phase with global oil risks rising.

The Iran-Israel conflict entered a more dangerous phase on Saturday, with Iranian missiles striking areas near Israel’s main nuclear research hub, even as US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran over the Strait of Hormuz.

Iranian missiles struck the southern Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad late Saturday, damaging buildings and injuring at least 64 people, according to rescue officials.

The strikes are significant for their proximity to Israel’s main nuclear research centre in the Negev desert.

• Dimona lies about 20 km from the facility
• Arad is roughly 35 km away

Israel’s military said it failed to intercept the missiles, marking the first known breach of air defences in this sensitive zone.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as a ‘very difficult evening’ as emergency crews were rushed to the sites.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf called the breach a sign the war is ‘entering a new phase.’

The UN’s nuclear watchdog said it had received no reports of damage or radiation leaks at the facility.

Trump issues 48-hour ultimatum on Hormuz

Even as missiles hit Israel, Trump escalated pressure on Tehran from Washington.

In a social media post, he warned Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or face US strikes on its power infrastructure.

He said the US would begin destroying “various power plants, starting with the biggest one first.”

The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most critical energy arteries:

• Carries about 20 percent of global oil consumption
• Handles a major share of global LNG trade

Ongoing attacks and threats have already disrupted shipping, with tankers avoiding the route and producers cutting output due to blocked exports.

Conflict expands beyond the Middle East

In a sign of expanding reach, Iran also targeted the UK-US Diego Garcia military base in the Indian Ocean, about 4,000 km away.

The attack was unsuccessful, but its implications are significant.

Military experts say the strike suggests:

• Iran may possess longer-range missile capability than previously acknowledged, or
• It may have adapted its space launch programme for military use

Israel’s army chief said Iran used a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile, though Tehran has not confirmed this.

Natanz strike triggers retaliation cycle

The missile strikes followed an earlier attack on Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility, one of Tehran’s key atomic sites.

• Iran said there was no radiation leak
• Israel denied responsibility
• The International Atomic Energy Agency said it was assessing the situation

The back-and-forth underscores a rapid escalation cycle, with nuclear infrastructure now directly or indirectly in play.

Global pressure builds to secure oil flows

With Hormuz effectively disrupted, global pressure is mounting to restore shipping.

The UAE joined over 20 countries, including the UK, France, Germany and Japan, in signalling readiness to ensure safe passage.

The US has also:

• Temporarily eased sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded on ships
• Deployed additional military assets, including ships and Marines, to the region
• However, supply constraints remain tight.

Iran’s oil ministry said it has little crude left in floating storage, limiting immediate export increases.

Attacks spread across the region

The conflict is now spilling across multiple geographies:

• Dubai: Missile alert triggered
• Saudi Arabia: 20 drones intercepted in oil-rich eastern region
• Lebanon: Israeli forces engaged in ground operations against Hezbollah

Casualties continue to mount:

• Over 1,500 killed in Iran
• At least 15 killed in Israel
• US military personnel and civilians among the dead across the region War objectives remain unclear

The US and Israel have offered shifting justifications for the war:

• Curtailing Iran’s nuclear and missile programmes
• Weakening its regional proxies
• In some cases, signalling hopes of regime change

So far, there are no signs of internal uprising in Iran, and information flows remain restricted.

Iran’s leadership structure also remains opaque, with Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei not seen publicly since assuming the role.