Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran Over Hormuz Strait

President Donald Trump escalated tensions in the Middle East by threatening military strikes on Iran’s power plants if the country fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to commercial shipping within 48 hours. The strait, which handles roughly 20% of global oil and gas transit, has seen shipments grind to a near halt following Iranian threats and escalating regional conflict.

The ultimatum, delivered via Trump’s Truth Social platform, marks a dramatic shift from his earlier suggestion of winding down military operations in the region. “I will hit and obliterate Iran’s power plants, starting with the biggest one,” Trump posted Saturday evening, setting a firm deadline for Iran to restore passage through the critical waterway.

Energy markets have already felt the impact, with Brent crude futures closing at $112.19 per barrel on Friday—a sharp increase driven by supply fears. The situation has been further complicated by recent strikes on energy infrastructure, including Israel’s attack on Iran’s South Pars gas field and Tehran’s retaliation against Qatar’s massive LNG facility.

The conflict has expanded beyond economic targets. More than 100 people were injured in southern Israel on Saturday after multiple Iranian missile strikes, part of Tehran’s response to an earlier attack on its Natanz nuclear facility. Israel reported 47 injuries from a missile targeting Dimona, home to a nuclear research site, while a second strike in Arad damaged three residential buildings and wounded over 60 people.

Trump’s mixed messaging has created uncertainty among allies and markets alike. While threatening military action against Iran, he has also pressured Israel to halt strikes on regional energy assets, warning that further attacks could trigger additional Iranian retaliation and worsen global supply disruptions.

The US Treasury has taken the unusual step of allowing sales of Iranian oil and petrochemical products already loaded onto tankers, despite existing sanctions. This move aims to mitigate the supply shock as the conflict enters its fourth week, just eight months before US midterm elections where energy prices could become a pivotal issue.

Despite Trump’s promises of US naval escorts and government-backed reinsurance for ships transiting the strait, no tankers have yet moved through with American military assistance. His efforts to enlist NATO allies have largely failed, with Trump branding alliance members “cowards” for declining to join the effort.

Iran demonstrated new military capabilities this week with a ballistic missile strike on the US-UK base in Diego Garcia, located nearly 2,500 miles from Iran. While the base reported no damage, the attack revealed capabilities previously unknown to Western intelligence.

The standoff highlights the fragile balance between energy security and regional stability. With global markets watching closely, Trump’s ultimatum sets the stage for a critical 48-hour period that could determine whether the Strait of Hormuz reopens or the conflict escalates further.

Reuters has reported that diplomatic channels remain open despite the public threats, though no progress has been announced.