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The United States has issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy the nation’s power plants unless Tehran guarantees unrestricted access through the strategic Strait of Hormuz. This dramatic escalation comes merely one day after President Donald Trump announced de-escalation efforts, creating renewed diplomatic complications in the ongoing conflict.

Washington’s warning specifically targets Iran’s energy infrastructure, with administration officials stating they would “hit and obliterate their various power plants, starting with the biggest one first” if Iran fails to ensure safe passage through the critical waterway without threats.

In response, Iranian officials have vowed countermeasures against American and Israeli assets throughout the Gulf region. Ebrahim Zolfaqari, spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, declared that any attack on Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against energy, information technology, and desalination facilities belonging to the US and Israel.

The conflict has already entered its fourth week with significant humanitarian consequences. Pirhossein Kolivand of the Iranian Red Crescent Society reported that US-Israeli strikes have targeted over 80,000 civilian locations since hostilities began, with estimated casualties exceeding 1,500 deaths.

International organizations have expressed growing concern. Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, reiterated calls for “military restraint to avoid any risk of a nuclear accident” following reports that Iran’s Natanz nuclear enrichment facility had been bombed.

The regional diplomatic landscape continues to deteriorate as Saudi Arabia declared Iranian military officials and three embassy staff persona non grata, ordering them to leave the kingdom within 24 hours. The Saudi Foreign Ministry cited Iran’s “continued targeting of Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty, civilian objects, civilians, economic interests and diplomatic premises” as violations of international agreements.

Meanwhile, the International Maritime Organization continues to seek coordination solutions for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran’s representative Ali Mousavi indicating that ships from non-enemy nations could pass with prior security coordination with Iranian authorities.

The transitional government in Damascus has reversed course on a controversial alcohol prohibition policy following widespread public condemnation and accusations of sectarian discrimination. The initial decree, issued Monday, banned alcohol sales in restaurants and nightclubs citywide while explicitly exempting three predominantly Christian neighborhoods—Bab Touma, Qassaa and Bab Sharqi. Authorities justified the measure as responding to ‘numerous complaints’ about practices ‘contrary to public morals.’

By Sunday, facing substantial backlash from residents and religious communities, the Damascus Governorate issued a clarifying statement that significantly softened the restrictions. The updated policy now permits alcohol sales for tourism purposes in hotels, restaurants and other designated establishments throughout the capital.

The government extended a formal apology to Christian communities, acknowledging the original decision had been ‘circulated inappropriately’ and pledging to reconsider the neighborhood-specific exemptions. Official statements emphasized these areas ‘constitute an icon of the capital’s identity and culture’ and promised revised policies that wouldn’t ‘offend any constituent groups.’

The incident marks another contentious social policy under President Ahmed al-Sharaa’s administration, which assumed power after ousting Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. While the government has largely avoided imposing social restrictions, recent measures including January’s ban on makeup for female public sector employees and mandatory full-body swimsuits on beaches have raised concerns about increasing social conservatism.

Sunday saw cross-community protests in Bab Touma, where both Muslim and Christian demonstrators condemned the alcohol policy as sectarian and threatening to social cohesion. Christian organizations issued a joint statement warning that designating Christian neighborhoods as alcohol-distribution zones could make them ‘clear and direct targets for terrorist attacks,’ referencing Syria’s history of Christian persecution.

The controversy emerges as the transitional government faces multiple challenges, including domestic unrest, Israeli attacks, and complex diplomatic relations. The administration maintains that popular elections remain unworkable following Syria’s 13-year civil war, which caused hundreds of thousands of deaths and millions of displacements.