Former U.S. President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Iran, demanding that the country fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or face targeted strikes on its power infrastructure, reports Baltimore Chronicle via truthsocial. Trump posted the warning on his social media platform Truth Social around 3 a.m. Moscow time, stating that U.S. forces would begin operations against Iran’s power plants starting with the largest if compliance is not immediate and unconditional.
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked by Iran since the outset of the Middle East conflict, severely disrupting global energy flows. Up to one-fifth of global seaborne oil exports—roughly 20 million barrels per day—passes through the waterway, along with shipments of liquefied natural gas. The disruption has already caused a sharp increase in crude oil prices, prompting the International Energy Agency to release the largest-ever strategic reserves of approximately 400 million barrels to stabilize the market.
In response to the crisis, the United States temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian crude aboard tankers at sea as well as on Iranian oil, allowing additional volumes to reach the market. The blockade has heightened geopolitical tensions and intensified global scrutiny on U.S.-Iran relations.
Trump’s declaration underscores an escalation in the U.S. posture toward Iran, signaling that military action could be imminent if Tehran does not comply with demands for unimpeded maritime access. Analysts warn that any strikes on power plants could have broad consequences for civilian infrastructure, regional security, and global energy markets.
The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic and economic measures unfolding alongside the mounting threat of direct U.S. military involvement.
Earlier we wrote that Supermicro co-founder Yih-Shyan Liaw arrested for $2.5B GPU server smuggling to China
