US President Donald Trump issued a forceful warning to Iran on social media, threatening attacks on the country’s power plants and bridges if it did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his extended Tuesday deadline.
Trump’s posts, filled with strong language, reiterated earlier threats of unleashing “hell” on Iran but also indicated a “good chance” of a deal being reached, according to US media interviews.
Iran dismissed the ultimatum as “helpless, nervous and stupid,” with military officials warning that any US action would backfire. Mahdi Tabatabaei, a spokesperson for Iran’s president, said the strait would reopen once damages caused by the conflict were compensated, signaling plans to levy fees on shipping.
The announcement followed the successful rescue of a second US fighter jet crew member downed over Iran during operations in hostile, mountainous terrain. Both US and Iranian forces had conducted searches to recover the pilot after the F-15 was shot down on Friday.
The escalation comes amid more than a month of US and Israeli air strikes on Iranian-linked targets, while Iran continues retaliatory attacks on Gulf nations allied with the US and Israel.
Disruption of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of global oil passes, has contributed to rising oil prices and global inflation concerns.
Trump’s deadlines for reopening the strait have been repeatedly postponed since March, with the latest 48-hour ultimatum set for Tuesday evening Eastern Time. He also told local news that, if no deal is reached, he may consider “blowing everything up and taking over the oil.”
Meanwhile, Iran has launched drones and missiles targeting Israel and US Gulf allies, striking civilian infrastructure including a residential building in Haifa and oil and petrochemical facilities in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Abu Dhabi. Israel has also struck Iranian energy facilities and the Qasem Soleimani International Airport, pending further US approval for additional attacks.
The standoff underscores heightened tensions in the Gulf, with potential consequences for global energy markets and regional security.
