Image Credit: - / Contributor / Getty Images President Trump has issued a furious warning to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating consequences, including the destruction of its power infrastructure.
In a post on Truth Social, the President warned of dire consequences for Tehran if it doesn’t allow full resumption of shipping in the Strait.
“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!”
The Strait, through which around 20% of the world’s oil exports pass, remains effectively closed.
Oil prices remain more than $100 a barrel, up from around $70 before the war began.
The Iranian response to Trump’s threat was defiant.
“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy and information technology infrastructure and desalination plants belonging to the United States and the Israeli entity in the region will be targeted,” a statement from the regime said.
President Trump had previously said the US had “blown Iran off the map,” and also said the conflict was “weeks ahead of schedule” in achieving its goals.
“The United States has blown Iran off the map, and yet their lightweight analyst, David Sanger, says that I haven’t met my own goals. Yes I have, and weeks ahead of schedule,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
“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. Just like their incompetent Election coverage of me, The Failing new York Times always gets it wrong.”
On Friday, President Trump slammed America’s allies as “cowards” for refusing to provide military support to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“Without the U.S.A., NATO IS A PAPER TIGER!” Trump said.
“They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a nuclear-powered Iran.
“Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them, they complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for the high oil prices. So easy for them to do, with so little risk. COWARDS, and we will REMEMBER!”
Within hours, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the US could use British bases, including the Indian Ocean base on Diego Garcia, to strike Iran.