Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran Over Strait of Hormuz

US President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy its power plants unless the Strait of Hormuz is fully reopened without threats.

In a post on Truth Social at 23:44 GMT Saturday, Trump 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 army warned it would target all US energy infrastructure in the region if Iran's fuel and energy facilities are attacked.

Iranian threats have prevented most ships from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway carrying about one-fifth of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas. The disruption has driven up energy prices, with Europe's gas prices rising 35 percent last week.

Amu TV reported that Iran struck Qatar's industrial city of Ras Laffan, which processes about one-fifth of global liquefied natural gas, in response to an Israeli attack on Iran's main gas field. Damage there will take years to repair.

Israeli Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir said Iran fired two ballistic missiles with a 4,000-kilometer range at the US and UK military base in Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, the first such long-range use since US and Israeli attacks on Iran began February 28. Zamir noted the missiles could reach European capitals including Berlin, Paris and Rome.

Amu TV said more than 2,000 people have been killed in the four-week war, including 15 in Israel from Iranian attacks. Trump posted the ultimatum from his Florida residence, according to Pajhwok Afghan News.

The statement marks a shift from Trump's recent talk of reducing the war, as US Marines and landing ships move toward the region.