Iran parliament speaker warns Trump against escalation, urges respect

Iran’s top legislative official issued a fiery warning to US President Donald Trump on Sunday, cautioning that continued military escalation would plunge the United States into a “living hell for every single family.” Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, wrote on X: “Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands.” He added: “You won’t gain anything through war crimes. The only real solution is respecting the rights of the Iranian people and ending this dangerous game.”

Trump’s threat to target infrastructure

Qalibaf’s response came after Trump threatened early Sunday to launch massive strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges by Tuesday if Tehran does not open the strategic Strait of Hormuz. In a Truth Social post, Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” He added a profanity-laced demand: “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!” Later, Trump posted simply: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time” without elaboration. Despite the threats, Trump told Axios that a deal with Tehran could still be reached by Tuesday.

Wider conflict and Türkiye’s position

The exchange marks another dramatic escalation in rhetoric between Washington and Tehran, even as the US-Israeli military campaign on Iran—launched February 28—has already killed more than 1,340 people, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. For Türkiye, which borders Iran and has consistently called for diplomacy, the prospect of deliberate strikes on civilian energy infrastructure is deeply alarming. Ankara has warned that targeting power plants and bridges would constitute collective punishment of the Iranian people and could trigger a humanitarian catastrophe. Turkish officials continue to urge both sides to return to the negotiating table, emphasizing that no military solution exists for the conflict.