Iran has mobilized youth, artists, and athletes to form a "human shield" to protect power plants after President Trump set a deadline for an attack.
On 7 Apr 2026 GMT+7, after Iran closed the Strait of Hormuz in response to the assassination of its Supreme Leader, causing oil prices to soar, President Donald Trump posted a stern message on Truth Social setting a deadline to reopen the strait by Tuesday, 7 April (which corresponds to Wednesday, 8 April at 07:00 Thailand time).
He stated, "This Tuesday will be both a 'day to strike power plants' and a 'day to strike bridges,' all combined in one day. Nothing like this will ever happen again!!! Open that damn strait, you crazy people, or else you will be in hell. Just watch! Praise Allah. President Donald J. Trump."
Iran refused to back down. Alireza Rahimi, Deputy Minister of Sports and Youth of Iran, called on students, athletes, artists, and youth organizations nationwide to form a "human shield" around power plants across the country to condemn U.S. threats to attack these facilities. The initiative is named "Iran's Youth Human Chain for a Bright Future."
They were urged to gather on Tuesday at 14:00 local time (Tuesday, 7 April, 17:30 Thailand time) around power plants, regarded as "national assets," regardless of political stance. Iran has previously used similar human shield tactics around nuclear sites during tensions with the West.