‘These are our Wealth…’: Iran Calls for Human Shields as Trump’s War Deadline Ticks Down

Amid escalating tensions and direct threats from the United States to target civilian infrastructure, Iran’s Deputy Sports Minister Alireza Rahimi has called on athletes and artists to form “human chains” around power plants, describing it as a symbolic and physical effort to deter potential airstrikes.

“This action (the human chain) has been formed at the suggestion of the youth themselves,” Iran's Deputy of Youth Affairs, Alireza Rahimi, said in a video message.

In the message, he invited youth, athletes, artists, students and faculty to gather near power plants on Tuesday at 2 PM local time in Iran. “These are our wealth and belongings”, he said.

According to the minister, the symbolic initiative is titled the “Human Chain of Iran's Youth for a Bright Future.”

The call follows a sharp escalation in rhetoric from US President Donald Trump, who has issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

What did Donald Trump threaten regarding Iran’s power plants and bridges?

The ultimatum, set for 8:00 PM (Washington time) on Tuesday, comes with a warning of a large-scale bombing campaign targeting Iran’s infrastructure if Tehran does not comply.

Trump has threatened a simultaneous assault aimed at “each and every one” of Iran’s electric generating plants and bridges. He expanded the warning to include all such facilities as Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and instead called for a permanent end to the war.

He stated that the objective would be to leave these facilities “burning, exploding, and never to be used again” within a four-hour window.

“The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump said, suggesting the deadline was final and noting that previous extensions had already been granted.

“This is a critical period... They asked for an extension of seven days; I gave them 10 days... They have till tomorrow. Now we will see what happens... A lot of people are affected by this. We are giving them until tomorrow, 8 o'clock, Eastern Time. After that, they are going to have no bridges. They are going to have no power plants. Stone ages,” he said.

(With inputs from ANI)