Trending Now - Iran's Threats and Rising Fertilizer Costs Worsen Farmer Struggles

WHO:

Kaveh Madani, U.N. official, stated, "The driest region of the world might see a real water war, but the knock-on effects on the world’s economy, including the U.S., will be both immediate and lasting."

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned that "With a blackout, water treatment and distribution systems will also collapse in some parts of the country."

Kaveh Madani, U.N. official, stated that the conflict has entered a "new phase" involving critical civilian infrastructure.

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned that "oil prices will rise for a long time" if Iran's power plants are struck.

Kaveh Madani, U.N. official, stated that the conflict has expanded beyond military targets to include critical civilian infrastructure.

Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of the Iranian parliament, warned that "critical infrastructure, energy, and oil across the region will be irreversibly destroyed" if Iran's power plants are struck.

President Donald Trump, Kaveh Madani (Iranian scientist and U.N. official), Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf (speaker of the Iranian parliament), Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya (PBUH), NBC News, Fox News, Drudge Report, NY Post.

WHAT:

The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. reached $3.94 on March 22nd, 2026, up almost a dollar since the start of the war.

The price for imported urea has risen by close to a third since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran.

The cost of nitrogenous fertilizer shot up by 22% from February 2025 to February 2026.

Kaveh Madani warned that the consequences of targeting desalination plants would be "catastrophic and lasting," affecting global markets.

Iran has claimed that it will target U.S. and Israeli energy and communications infrastructure in the region if the U.S. follows through on its threats.

The average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. reached $3.94 on March 22nd, 2026, up almost a dollar since the start of the war.

Kaveh Madani warned that the potential targeting of desalination plants could lead to a "real water war" in the driest region of the world, with "catastrophic and lasting" consequences.

Iran has threatened to retaliate by attacking desalination, energy, and other energy-related infrastructure in all countries in the region that are parties to the war, including Israel.

Iran threatens to strike critical desalination infrastructure across the Middle East within days.

Kaveh Madani warned that desalination plants could be targeted "within the next few days."

President Trump warned that the U.S. would hit Iranian power infrastructure unless the Strait of Hormuz was opened within 48 hours.

Iran vowed to deploy a policy of "zero restraint" against energy facilities across the Persian Gulf if Trump follows through on his threats.

Desalination facilities, including a plant on Iran’s Qeshm Island and another in Bahrain, have allegedly already been struck.

WHERE:

The conflict has seen missile strikes across Israel, particularly in the southern town of Arad, which was struck by Iranian missiles on March 22nd, 2026.

Middle East, specifically mentioning Qeshm Island (Iran) and Bahrain.

Strait of Hormuz.

WHEN:

The war in Iran has entered its fourth week as of March 22nd, 2026.

President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on March 21st, 2026, with a deadline of March 24th, 2026.

The conflict has been ongoing for four weeks as of March 22nd, 2026.

President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum on March 21st, 2026.

The conflict has entered its fourth week as of March 22nd, 2026.

The threats were made on Sunday, March 22nd, 2026.

Trump’s ultimatum has a deadline of March 24th, 2026.

WHY:

Iran's threats to target desalination and energy infrastructure are a direct response to President Trump's ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran's threats are a direct response to President Trump's ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz and potential U.S. strikes on Iranian power plants.

The threats from Iran are in response to President Trump's warning regarding the Strait of Hormuz and potential U.S. strikes on Iranian power plants.

Kaveh Madani indicated that the conflict has expanded beyond military targets to include critical civilian infrastructure.

HOW:

Iran has vowed to deploy a policy of "zero restraint" against energy facilities across the Persian Gulf if the U.S. attacks its power plants.

Iran has claimed that it will keep providing safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz to vessels from countries other than its enemies.

Iran's threats include targeting energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the U.S. and its allies in the region.

Desalination is critical for supplying water across Israel and many Gulf neighbors, particularly in arid regions.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 13:29 UTC)

As the war in Iran enters its fourth week, U.N. official Kaveh Madani has warned that the driest region of the world may face a real water war, with significant impacts on the global economy, including the U.S. Meanwhile, the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. has surged to $3.94, a nearly one-dollar increase since the conflict began, while the cost of nitrogenous fertilizer has jumped by 22% over the past year. In response to President Trump's recent ultimatum, Iran has threatened to target desalination and energy infrastructure, pledging to take a "zero restraint" approach against energy facilities in the Persian Gulf if the U.S. escalates its military actions.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 11:21 UTC)

The conflict in the region has entered a "new phase," according to U.N. official Kaveh Madani, who warned that targeting critical civilian infrastructure, like desalination plants, could have catastrophic and lasting effects on global markets. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf cautioned that if Iran's power plants are struck, oil prices will rise significantly, and Iran has threatened to retaliate by targeting U.S. and Israeli energy and communications infrastructure. This escalation comes just two days after President Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum, with the average price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. reaching $3.94 as of March 22, up nearly a dollar since the conflict began four weeks ago.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 03:58 UTC)

The conflict in the region has escalated significantly, with U.N. official Kaveh Madani warning that military actions are now targeting critical civilian infrastructure, including desalination plants, which could spark a "real water war" with devastating effects. Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf has threatened that if Iran's power plants are attacked, energy and oil infrastructure across the region will face irreversible destruction, and Iran has vowed to retaliate against countries involved in the conflict, including Israel. This turmoil follows missile strikes in Israel, particularly in the southern town of Arad, as the conflict enters its fourth week, fueled by President Trump's ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

(UPDATED March 23, 2026 01:30 UTC)

In a significant escalation of tensions, President Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, demanding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face U.S. strikes on Iranian power infrastructure. In response, Iranian officials, including scientist Kaveh Madani, have warned that critical desalination plants across the Middle East could be targeted within days, with facilities on Qeshm Island and in Bahrain already reportedly struck. This conflict has now shifted focus from military targets to critical civilian infrastructure, highlighting the importance of desalination for water supply in arid regions like Israel and the Gulf states.