U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz or risk targeted American military strikes on key energy infrastructure.
The warning, delivered late Saturday via social media, marks a sharp escalation in tensions surrounding one of the world’s most critical oil transit routes. The strait, which facilitates the movement of nearly a fifth of global crude oil, has seen severely reduced traffic since early March following the outbreak of hostilities involving Tehran.
“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!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
Tehran has yet to indicate any willingness to comply with the demand. Instead, Iranian officials have issued warnings of potential retaliation, signaling that U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets could be targeted if military action is taken.
“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted,” the Iranian military’s operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement.
According to industry and energy databases, Iran’s largest power plants include the Damavand power plant near Tehran, the Kerman plant in the southeast, the Ramin steam power plant in Khuzestan province, and the country’s sole nuclear plant at Bushehr.
The standoff comes amid mounting global concern over energy security, as disruptions in the strait have contributed to rising oil prices and heightened volatility in international markets. Washington is also facing growing domestic pressure to ensure the free flow of maritime traffic through the passage.
Meanwhile, the regional situation continues to deteriorate. Iranian forces have reportedly launched fresh missile attacks into Israel, hitting two communities in the country’s south late Saturday. The strikes caused significant structural damage and left dozens injured, with impacts recorded near a major Israeli nuclear research facility.
With the deadline now counting down, international observers warn that failure to de-escalate could trigger a broader confrontation, further destabilizing an already volatile region and threatening global energy supplies.
