In a dramatic escalation of tensions, former U.S. President Donald Trump has delivered a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran demanding the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The strategic waterway, currently blockaded by Iranian forces, serves as a critical global oil transit route.
Through his Truth Social platform on Saturday, Trump issued an unequivocal warning: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST.”
The former president further asserted that U.S. military operations against Iran have exceeded expectations, claiming the elimination of Iranian leadership and the destruction of defense systems ahead of schedule. These assertions remain unverified by independent sources.
The economic implications of the strait’s closure have already manifested globally, with oil prices surging past $100 per barrel—a development that threatens to exacerbate worldwide inflationary pressures.
Iran responded sternly on Sunday, with Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf warning via social media platform X that any attack on Iranian power infrastructure would trigger retaliatory strikes against U.S. assets and critical energy and desalination facilities throughout the Gulf region. Such countermeasures, Qalibaf cautioned, could cause “irreversible destruction” to Middle Eastern infrastructure.
Military analysts note that targeting power plants would constitute an unprecedented escalation, potentially depriving millions of Iranian civilians of electricity and essential services, raising significant humanitarian concerns.