Kamal Ghorui
An Iranian government official has called on citizens—particularly young people—to gather around the country’s power plants at a fixed hour on Tuesday.In a video broadcast on state television, Alireza Rahimi, introduced as secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council of Youth and Adolescents, urged “young people, athletes, artists, students and university professors” to assemble at 2 p.m. around key energy infrastructure. He described the facilities as “national assets” belonging to the future of Iran, and called for unity “regardless of political viewpoint”.The appeal comes amid escalating tensions, with Trump warning that Iran’s power plants and bridges could be destroyed within hours if Tehran fails to meet his demands by a self-imposed deadline later on Tuesday.Rahimi’s call echoes tactics previously used by Iran during periods of heightened confrontation with Western powers. Human chains—effectively civilian shields—have been formed in the past around sensitive sites, including nuclear facilities, in a bid to complicate or discourage military strikes.Such methods have historical precedent beyond Iran. During the 1991 Gulf War, Saddam Hussein’s regime deployed civilians, including foreign nationals, near potential targets to deter US-led attacks. Analysts say the re-emergence of such tactics signals the level of concern within Tehran over the immediacy of Washington’s threats.The timing—“Tuesday at 2 p.m.”—appears designed to precede Trump’s deadline, creating a visible civilian presence at potential targets before any military action could begin.Trump doubles down on strike threatSpeaking at the White House on Monday, Trump issued one of his starkest warnings yet, saying Iran’s infrastructure could be “taken out in one night”.“Every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding,” he said, adding that bridges would also face “complete demolition” within a matter of hours if Iran does not comply with US demands, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz to unrestricted oil traffic.He dismissed concerns that such strikes could constitute war crimes, arguing that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons was a greater imperative.The rhetoric comes as hostilities intensify across the region. Explosions were reported in Tehran and Karaj amid Israeli airstrikes, while missile and drone attacks linked to Iran have hit targets in Iraq and triggered interceptions in Saudi Arabia.
