March 23, 2026 | 09:38 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President of the United States (US), Donald Trump, has threatened to attack Iran's power facilities if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. The threat was made on Saturday, March 21, amid the fourth week of the United States-Israel war with Iran.
According to Anadolu report, Trump issued the ultimatum through the Truth Social account at 7:44 PM Eastern Time or 23:44 GMT. "If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz, without threat, within 48 hours from now, the United States will attack and destroy various power plants, starting with the largest first," Trump wrote.
Pressure on the World's Oil Route
As reported by Al Jazeera, the threat emerged amid pressure on Trump to ensure navigation freedom in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran had previously stated that it would close the route to "enemy ships," which has led to a surge in oil prices and a decline in global stock markets.
The Strait of Hormuz is a strategic energy route for the world. Around 20 million barrels of oil pass through these waters every day. Since early March, maritime traffic in the region has been reported to have almost stopped due to the ongoing conflict.
Iran has stated that the strait remains open to countries outside the United States and its allies. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that several countries have requested security assurances. "It depends on our military decision," Araghchi said, without specifying the countries in question.
Iran's Response and Risk of Escalation
The Iranian military has stated that it will target all American energy infrastructure in the region if Iran's energy facilities are attacked. Meanwhile, the United States Central Command has stated that Iran's ability to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz has weakened. This follows air strikes on underground facilities on the Iranian coast, including anti-ship cruise missile depots and mobile launcher systems.
The day before, Trump had stated that the United States was close to achieving its military goals and was considering ending operations in the Middle East. Previously, Trump also admitted to intentionally not targeting power plants in Tehran because it could cause long-term damage and trauma to civilians. The United States-Israel conflict with Iran began on February 28. Since then, around 1,300 people have died, including Iran's then Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei.
Read: Trump Warns of Power Plant Attacks if Iran Fails to Reopen Hormuz in 48 Hours
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