Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening to “hit and obliterate” the country’s power plants unless Tehran fully reopens the Strait of Hormuz without any threats to shipping.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday Trump wrote: “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! Thank you for your attention to this matter.”
The Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, is one of the world’s most critical chokepoints for global energy supplies. Roughly one-fifth of the planet’s oil and a significant portion of liquefied natural gas pass through it daily. Iran has been accused of attempting to disrupt or close the strait amid escalating tensions, including recent U.S. and allied military operations targeting Iranian assets.
Trump’s warning comes amid reports of Iranian actions—such as potential mining or missile threats—that have paralyzed commercial traffic in recent days, driving up global oil prices and contributing to market volatility. The U.S. has already conducted strikes on Iranian military facilities, including coastal missile sites and infrastructure, as part of efforts to degrade Tehran’s ability to threaten shipping lanes. Central Command has confirmed ongoing operations to neutralize such threats.
This latest escalation follows mixed signals from the administration. Just a day earlier, Trump suggested the U.S. was nearing its objectives in the region and considering “winding down” military efforts, even urging other nations dependent on the strait—such as China, Japan, South Korea, and European allies—to take greater responsibility for policing it. He emphasized that the U.S. does not rely heavily on the route itself and that future security should fall to those who do.
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump indicated that Iran appears eager for negotiations but that he is not interested at this stage, claiming the U.S. has already achieved its goals “weeks ahead of schedule.” These objectives reportedly include destroying key elements of Iran’s military capabilities, naval and air forces, defense industrial base, and preventing any nuclear weapon development—claims echoed in prior statements about prior strikes having “obliterated” aspects of Iran’s nuclear program.
The ultimatum has drawn widespread attention and concern internationally, with reports of Iranian missile strikes on Israeli communities overnight adding to regional volatility. Oil markets remain jittery, and analysts warn that any strikes on power infrastructure could cause severe humanitarian impacts in Iran while further disrupting global energy flows.
Trump’s direct, all-caps messaging on social media underscores his confrontational approach, framing the demand as non-negotiable and promising overwhelming retaliation if unmet. As the 48-hour clock ticks, the world watches to see whether diplomacy or further military action will prevail in this rapidly intensifying standoff.