WASHINGTON:  US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened to target Iran’s energy infrastructure, including the country’s desalination plants.

Such a move, and Iran’s possible targeting of the plants of its Gulf Arab neighbours, could have devastating impacts across the water-starved Middle East.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said if a deal to end the war isn’t reached “shortly” and the Strait of Hormuz, where much oil passes via tankers, is not immediately reopened, “we will conclude our lovely stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet touched.’”