Trump Threatens Iran With Attacks on Power Plants Over Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, threatening to strike Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened to shipping. The warning, delivered via a post on Truth Social, stipulated that the U.S. Would “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, “starting with the biggest one first,” should Iran fail to comply by 23:44 GMT on Monday.
The ultimatum follows a period of escalating tensions after traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil supplies, has been significantly limited since early March, coinciding with the start of the war with Iran. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil passes through the strait.
Trump’s threat represents a significant escalation in rhetoric, coming after he indicated on Friday that reopening the strait was a “simple military maneuver,” though requiring “ships” and “volume.” He also criticized NATO, stating the alliance hadn’t demonstrated “the courage” to assist in reopening the waterway.
In response to Trump’s ultimatum, Iran’s army has warned it will target energy and desalination infrastructure belonging to the U.S. And its regional allies if its own energy plants are attacked, according to Iran’s Fars news agency. Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran’s parliament, added that retaliatory strikes would target “critical infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region,” potentially causing a sustained rise in oil prices.
The U.S. President’s warning came as Tehran launched what British officials confirmed was an unsuccessful attack on Diego Garcia, a joint U.S.-U.K. Military base in the Indian Ocean. Iranian state media reported the launch of two intermediate-range ballistic missiles, with one failing to reach the island and the other intercepted by a U.S. Warship. This attack marks the longest-range assault by Iran since the beginning of hostilities with the U.S. And Israel in late February.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio accompanied President Trump when he spoke to reporters regarding the situation, though details of Rubio’s contributions to the discussion have not been released. Iran’s foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, stated that restrictions on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz are limited to those from countries involved in attacks against Iran, and that other vessels would be permitted passage if they remain neutral in the conflict.
As of Sunday, the Strait of Hormuz remains largely closed to commercial traffic, and thousands of additional U.S. Marines are reportedly en route to the Middle East. The situation remains unresolved, with no immediate indication of Iran’s intent to reopen the strait.