PALM BEACH, FL — In a major escalation of the four-week-old US-Israeli war with Iran, United States President
Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Tehran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the “obliteration” of its domestic power grid.
The warning, posted to Truth Social on Saturday night at 23:44 GMT, demands that Iran restore unrestricted freedom of navigation in the strategic waterway, which handles approximately 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Trump’s Social Media Declaration
Writing from his Florida home, Trump stated: “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”.
While Trump did not name a specific facility, the threat marks a significant pivot in military strategy, moving from tactical military targets to Iran’s civilian energy infrastructure. The President further claimed that the US military campaign is “weeks ahead of schedule” and has already fundamentally degraded Iran’s naval and aerial capabilities.
Tehran’s Defiant Response
Iran’s Unified Combatant Command of the Armed Forces has rejected the ultimatum, warning that any strike on its fuel and energy sector would trigger a “broader response” across the region.
- Retaliation Warning: Tehran has vowed that if its power plants are hit, all U.S. energy infrastructure in the Middle East will become targets.
- Military Readiness: State media reports that Iranian armed forces are prepared to intensify strikes, with a spokesperson for the Central Khatam al-Anbiya Headquarters stating, “Strike our infrastructure, and we will strike more important and numerous infrastructure of yours”.
Global Market and Security Impact
The de facto closure of the Strait has already sent global energy markets into a tailspin.
- Oil Prices: Crude prices have skyrocketed as tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has dropped to near zero.
- Regional Instability: The ultimatum follows a series of destructive exchanges, including Iranian missile strikes on the Israeli cities of Dimona and Arad, and an unsuccessful attack on the joint U.S.-U.K. base at Diego Garcia.
As the 48-hour window closes, the international community remains on high alert for a potential total disruption of regional industrial capacity.
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