Trump Issues Iran Ultimatum as Hormuz Strait Threat Looms
President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, threatening to destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran does not “fully” reopen the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping. The demand, delivered via a post on Truth Social, comes as Iran continues to effectively block the vital waterway following attacks on the country initiated by the U.S. And Israel on February 28.
“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 wrote.
The threat raises significant legal and humanitarian concerns. Under the Geneva Conventions, attacks targeting “objects indispensable to the survival of the civilian population” are prohibited. International Humanitarian Law also stipulates that any civilian harm resulting from military strikes must not be “excessive in relation to the concrete and direct military advantage anticipated.” The destruction of Iran’s power plants could lead to widespread blackouts, impacting hospitals, water treatment facilities, and food supply chains.
Iran’s response was swift and uncompromising. An Iranian military spokesman indicated that any attack on its power plants would be met with retaliatory strikes targeting U.S.-linked energy facilities in the region. Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, Iran’s Parliament Speaker, stated via X that following an attack on Iran’s power plants, “critical infrastructure, energy infrastructure, and oil facilities” throughout the region would be “destroyed in an irreversible manner.”
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) further warned that the Strait of Hormuz would be “completely closed” in the event of an attack on Iran’s energy grid, remaining shut until Iran’s power plants are rebuilt. Iran has previously indicated it would target the energy infrastructure of Gulf countries if its own facilities were attacked.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil passes, has already had a significant economic impact. Oil prices have surged past $100 a barrel multiple times in recent weeks, and diesel prices have exceeded $5 a gallon. Experts warn that these rising fuel costs could ripple through the global economy, increasing prices for groceries, shipping, and construction.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated Sunday that the Trump administration was leaving “all options on the table” regarding reopening the strait, adding that escalating and de-escalating the conflict were “not mutually exclusive.”
President Trump had previously criticized NATO allies for declining to assist in securing the waterway, branding them “cowardly,” and declined to comment on potential troop deployments to dismantle the blockade. He also asserted that the strait holds little strategic importance for the U.S., claiming it would eventually “open itself.”