Iranians brace for power-plant threats as Trump deadline nears

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Three times a week, Asghar Hashemi goes to Tajrish Martyrs Hospital in northern Tehran for dialysis, and as U.S. President Donald Trump’s ultimatum deadline drew closer, he said his concern centered on whether power stations could be knocked out. Hashemi told the Associated Press that he feared his own life would be in danger if electricity failures followed the threatened attacks, even as he described himself as no worse off than other residents who have lived under more than five weeks of strikes.

Tehran residents rushed Tuesday to prepare for possible outages, stocking up on bottled water and chargeable items such as cellphones, flashlights and portable power banks as the hours ticked down to Trump’s latest deadline in Washington time. Trump’s demand, described in the report as tied to a deal that includes Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz, was presented publicly with escalating rhetoric that warned of attacks on power plants and bridges if there was no agreement. Some residents said they were terrified, while others expressed resignation; Hashemi said, “Whatever happens, we will stand until the end.”

Hashemi, 56, said he was worried about people around him rather than only his own condition, lying on his hospital bed as he received treatment. “I am worried, but I am more worried about my fellow citizens,” he said. He also indicated he would be ready to resist if violence followed, saying, “I will be ready to pick up a gun and start a fight against the enemy.”

For many Iranians, the report said, electricity became the central practical concern as the weeks of hostilities continued. The Associated Press reported that Tehran, like other parts of the country, has seen almost daily airstrikes by the United States and Israel since Feb. 28, and that residents quickly began focusing on whether power would stay on. Mahan Qayoumi, 23, who works in an artisan shop, said that without electricity, “there will be no water, no hygiene, nothing,” and said business would stop if power outages hit.

Another resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for her safety through Telegram, said she was preparing to leave Tehran because of what she described as Trump’s threats. She said she planned to drive north with her cat, Maya, to join her family; she told the outlet, “If there is no electricity, there is no water,” and added that “You can’t cook, either.” She pointed to Tehran’s low water pressure and reliance on electric water pumps, framing daily needs as directly linked to whether electricity is available.

Even as some people frantically prepared, the report described parts of Tehran continuing to function normally on Tuesday. The streets of Tehran saw less traffic over several weeks, with many residents leaving to find safer areas, and schools and many state institutions remained closed; however, in one of north Tehran’s largest covered markets, businesses such as bakeries and shops selling Iranian sweets continued operating. Said Motazavi, 58, who owns a home appliances shop, said, “We are living our normal lives,” and said Iranians have built experience living through conflict, referring to the 1980-88 Iraq-Iran war and Israel’s 12-day war last year.

At Tajrish Martyrs Hospital, the report said, administrators emphasized backup power and supplies. The hospital director said that a generator could keep much of the facility functioning if needed and that the hospital had enough fuel to power it. Dr. Masoud Moslemifard told AP that the facility had “enough fuel to power it” and had “ample medicine and supplies for six months,” and he said, “I do not see any problem,” adding that nonurgent surgeries had been postponed while operations for people wounded in the war had been prioritized.

The report also described security tightening across Tehran as the deadline approached. It said checkpoints were set up across the capital and that at major intersections, jeeps mounted with heavy machine guns were deployed. Iran’s internet remained largely shut off, the report said, restricting access to information even as panic spread, with some people relying on Telegram for communication while outside lines remained limited.

A 26-year-old Pilates instructor told the Associated Press on condition of anonymity for her safety via Telegram that she had been unable to prepare for possible attacks and called this week the “worst atmosphere” since the war began. She said, “Honestly, we’ve kind of lost it at this point,” and described staying home while her family refused to leave Tehran. Another resident, a teacher in her 20s, told AP via Telegram on condition of anonymity that if the United States carried out the threat, Iranians—not the government—would be the ones affected, saying that “By attacking infrastructure, the Islamic Republic will not be destroyed, only we will be destroyed.”

She also warned that the combination of disrupted communications and essential services could intensify the crisis, saying that without internet and without electricity, water and gas, “we’re really going back to the Stone Age, as Trump said.” The Associated Press reported that it has permission from the Iranian government to send an additional team into the country for a brief reporting trip, with visiting reporters accompanied by a government-affiliated media assistant, while AP said it retains full editorial control.