President Donald Trump has delivered a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran and outlined what he says will come next in the escalating Middle East conflict.
The fighting between the US and Iran has entered a fourth week, following an opening phase of strikes that reportedly resulted in the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has since responded with retaliatory attacks aimed at US military installations around the region, with several locations affected, including Dubai, Kuwait and Qatar.
Much of the global focus has centred on the Strait of Hormuz, where traffic has reportedly dwindled to a trickle. The disruption has driven energy costs higher internationally and raised concerns that some countries could face oil shortages within weeks if the conflict continues.
Trump has now warned that Iran’s energy network will be targeted if the strait is not fully reopened within the next two days.
Posting on Truth Social on Saturday (March 21), the president wrote: “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!”
Iran’s military operational command, Khatam Al-Anbiya, issued a response warning of consequences if Iranian facilities are struck, stating: “If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted.”
Earlier the same day, Trump also used Truth Social to offer his view of how the war is unfolding.
“The United States has blown Iran off of the map, and yet their lightweight analyst, David Sanger [the White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times], says that I haven’t met my own goals. Yes I have, and weeks ahead of schedule!” he posted.
He then continued by describing Iran’s armed capabilities, writing: “Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. I don’t! We are weeks ahead of schedule.”
Despite the conflict being far from US shores, the strain on the Strait of Hormuz has fed into domestic economic pressure. Reports indicate fuel costs have increased, while mortgage rates have also moved higher, reaching 6.22 percent amid market anxiety linked to oil supply worries.
In the midst of the volatility, Trump has moved to lift sanctions on Iranian oil, a step framed as an attempt to ease pressure on gas prices.