President Trump gives Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on power stations

On Saturday, President Donald Trump issued a stark 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, warning that the U.S. would strike its power plants if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump posted on Truth Social, saying, “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!”

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This ultimatum marks a significant escalation in tensions between the U.S. and Iran, particularly concerning the vital waterway, which is crucial for global oil and gas transport.

The Strait of Hormuz, which supplies about one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, has been largely blocked since early March due to the ongoing conflict with Iran.

Trump’s statement comes after he told reporters on Friday that reopening the strait would be a “simple military maneuver.” He explained, “It’s relatively safe, but you need a lot of help in the sense of you need ships, you need volume.” He also criticized NATO, saying they had not shown the “courage” to assist the U.S. with reopening the waterway.

NATO Criticism and Calls for Action

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Trump took to Truth Social earlier on Friday to blast NATO, calling them “cowards” for complaining about high oil prices while refusing to help open the Strait of Hormuz. He also noted that other countries could help, but stated, “at a certain point, it’ll reopen itself.”

Meanwhile, over 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada, and the United Arab Emirates, have signed a joint statement showing their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the Strait of Hormuz.

The statement condemns Iran’s actions in the region, including attacks on commercial vessels, oil and gas infrastructure, and efforts to block the strait.

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The joint statement from these nations also condemns Iran’s ongoing attacks, calling for an immediate end to their threats and military actions.

Additionally, U.S. forces recently targeted Iran’s anti-ship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz with 5,000-pound bunker-buster bombs, according to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

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