War in the Middle East: Donald Trump threatens Iran, American pilot rescued, energy sites hit.

The war in the Middle East has entered its sixth week. While expressing belief in the possibility of an agreement with Iran, Donald Trump, backed by insults, threatened to target Iranian infrastructure as his ultimatum to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approached its expiration. Furthermore, the President of the United States praised the “miraculous” rescue of a “gravely injured” American aviator on Iranian soil. Israel also challenged Iranian leaders and continued its strikes in Lebanon, resulting in at least 11 deaths. Here is what you need to know from this day:

Approaching the end of his ultimatum on the Strait of Hormuz, Donald Trump threatens (and insults) Iran “Open the damn strait, you bastards, or you will live in hell – you will see,” the American president wrote on his Truth Social network, on Sunday morning. The previous day, the Republican billionaire had reiterated that his ultimatum, issued ten days earlier, would expire on Monday evening at 8 pm (Washington time), after which he would “unleash hell” on Iranian infrastructure. Later on Sunday, Donald Trump posted a cryptic message on his social network. “Tuesday, 8 p.m. Eastern time [in the United States],” he wrote, without specifying whether it was a postponement of the ultimatum or not.

Iran responded through the Parliament President: “Your reckless actions lead the United States into hell for every family,” wrote Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf in an English message published on X. “Our whole region will burn because you insist on following [Benjamin] Netanyahu’s orders,” he continued, referring to the Israeli Prime Minister, whose country is a US ally. “The only true solution is to respect the rights of the Iranian people and put an end to this dangerous game,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf continued. Despite his aggressive message, Donald Trump nevertheless believed that there were “good chances” of reaching an agreement with Iran. This is what the American president declared on Sunday during an interview with a Fox News journalist.

Gulf countries call for “diplomatic efforts” The United Arab Emirates once again expressed on Sunday their readiness to “join any effort” led by the United States or the international community to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s “strategy,” which regularly targets its Gulf neighbors since the start of the war, risks accentuating Israel’s influence in the region, stated presidential adviser Anwar Gargash during a media briefing. In another Gulf monarchy, Oman’s official news agency assured that authorities had discussed with Iran the issue of the Strait of Hormuz. The meeting brought together diplomats from both countries who presented possible “options” for reopening the crucial passage for global hydrocarbon supply.

Strategic sites in Gulf countries damaged by Iranian strikes During the day, several energy sites were targeted by Iran in Gulf countries. In Bahrain, an Iranian drone attack caused a fire at a reservoir belonging to the state-owned oil company, Bapco. “Damage is currently being assessed. No injuries have been reported,” the company announced in a statement. In Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, authorities fought fires at the Borouge petrochemical plant, caused by debris falling after the interception of Iranian shots. The United Arab Emirates also reported an “incident” at the Khor Fakkan port on the country’s east coast, near the entrance to the Strait of Hormuz, according to the official WAM agency. The British maritime agency UKMTO also reported an incident, mentioning “unknown projectiles” falling “in the immediate vicinity” of a container ship that was loading.

OPEC+ increases production quotas and warns that repairing damaged energy sites will take “a lot of time” Even if the conflict in the Middle East ends quickly, global oil supply will be durably affected, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and their allies (OPEC+). In a statement, they warned that restoring damaged energy installations in Gulf countries would be “costly” and take “a lot of time.” In these conditions, OPEC+, which includes 22 oil-producing countries, decided to increase production quotas by 206,000 barrels per day starting in May. On March 1, three days after the start of the conflict in the Middle East, OPEC+ had already increased their oil production quotas by the same number of barrels per day for April.

In Israel, a missile impact hits a residential building causing injuries, including at least one serious Reporting a direct missile impact on a building in Haifa, in northern Israel, the Israeli army and emergency services announced that four people were injured, including one elderly person seriously injured and a baby. Three other people are reported missing, according to these sources.

The second missing American pilot rescued in Iran, he is “seriously injured” “WE GOT HIM!” In capital letters, Donald Trump declared on his Truth Social network that the second aviator rescued from the crash of an F-15E aircraft in Iran on Friday, who had been missing, was rescued by the United States on Saturday night to Sunday, during “one of the most audacious search and rescue operations in United States history.” The aviator is “seriously injured,” specified the American president. The other pilot on board this F-15E fighter-bomber had been extracted during a previous operation by US special forces.

According to American media, including the New York Times, the operation involved “hundreds of special operations troops and other military personnel,” as well as “cyber, space, and intelligence capabilities.” The soldier who was sought was extracted by members of the Navy SEAL Team 6, according to the newspaper.

Iranian armed forces, on their part, claimed to have shot down three US military aircraft involved in this rescue operation. “Enemy aircraft that penetrated the south of Isfahan,” including two Black Hawk helicopters and one C-130 military transport plane, “were hit and are now in flames,” stated the Khatam al-Anbiya inter-arm command. Several Iranian state media outlets also denied the success of the American operation. “The pilot rescue operation failed,” said the Tasnim agency. However, they acknowledged that the operation resulted in four Iranian fatalities.

Israeli army promises to “intensify” operations against Hezbollah in Lebanon Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir spoke on Sunday from southern Lebanon. “The damage inflicted on Hezbollah will intensify,” he declared during a visit to “the Ras el-Bayada region, the northernmost point of southern Lebanon where Israeli soldiers are currently operating,” as reported by the army in a statement.

This announcement comes as Israel has been shelling the neighboring country since early March, claiming to target Hezbollah’s interests, an ally of Iran. According to the Lebanese civil defense, seven people, including six members of one family, were killed in an Israeli airstrike on Sunday in Kfar Hatta, southern Lebanon. At least four people were also killed and 39 others injured in a strike that hit southern Beirut, according to the Lebanese Health Ministry.

Israeli Defense Minister threatens to “paralyze” the Iranian regime Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened on Sunday to “paralyze” the Iranian regime by killing its leaders and targeting strategic infrastructure if missile attacks against Israel continue. “As long as missile fire continues to target Israeli civilians, Iran will pay a heavy price that will degrade, and eventually paralyze, its national infrastructure, as well as the operational capacity of the regime,” he assured in a video message. In recent days, alongside the United States, Israel has targeted Iranian surgical and petrochemical installations, claiming that the revenues from these sectors are used by the Islamic Republic’s Revolutionary Guards to fund weapons production.

On Sunday, an airport in southwest Iran was reportedly hit by Israeli-American strikes, as reported by the official Irna agency, citing the deputy governor of the Khouzestan province, Valiollah Hayati. The airport targeted was Soleimani Airport, serving the city of Ahvaz, the capital of Khuzestan.

Five members of the Revolutionary Guards killed in Israeli-American strikes American-Israeli airstrikes reportedly killed five members of the Revolutionary Guards in northwestern Iran on Sunday. “Following the brutal attacks by the American-Israeli enemy on the Moghan plain… five fighters… have fallen as martyrs,” stated Irna, the official news agency, citing a statement from the Guards in the Ardabil province.