On Saturday, President Trump delivered a tough ultimatum to Iran, stating that the country must completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or the U.S. will launch an attack aimed at “destroying” its vital energy infrastructure.
He expressed his anger on Truth Social, saying, “If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz without threat within 48 hours from this point, the United States will attack and destroy various Iranian power plants, starting with the largest!”
Since President Trump initiated a joint U.S.-Israel attack on February 28, Iran has effectively blocked this crucial maritime route, impacting one-fifth of global oil exports.
This closure has triggered a surge in global fuel prices, with Brent crude rising to over $100 a barrel, compared to just around $70 a month ago.
The Iranian government has stated that it views the increasing oil prices as a means to exert pressure on both the U.S. and Israel.
Following this warning, Trump vented again, claiming that the U.S. had “wiped Iran off the map.” He continued to assert that the conflict’s progression was ahead of schedule, in contrast to reports from the New York Times that suggested otherwise.
He wrote, “The United States wiped Iran off the map, but leading American analyst David Sanger says we’re missing our own goals. Yes, we’re meeting our goals. We’re weeks ahead of schedule.”
Trump further emphasized, “Their leadership is gone, their Navy and Air Force are crippled, they have no defense whatsoever, and they’re trying to make a deal. Not me! We’re weeks ahead of schedule. Just like their incompetent election coverage of me, the failed New York Times is always wrong.”
During a press conference on Friday, he indicated he was not interested in negotiating a ceasefire with Iran, claiming that the devastation inflicted was so significant that it would take a decade for them to rebuild.
He accused Iran of “choking up the strait” and stated that NATO lacked the “courage” to assist in reopening it.
Additionally, President Trump mentioned that he hasn’t excluded the possibility of deploying troops to the Iranian coast to secure the Strait of Hormuz or take control of Kharg Island.
