U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a televised address on the conflict in the Middle East from the Cross Hall of the White House in Washington D.C.. AFP
“Tuesday will be ‘Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day,’ all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He coupled that with a direct, profane demand, “Open the F***in’ Strait, you crazy b*stards, or you’ll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH!”
He ended the message with “Praise be to Allah.”
The message builds on weeks of escalating ultimatums amid a full‑scale war by the United States and Israel on Iran, which began on 28 February and has since seen sustained bombardment and retaliation across the region.
Since early March, Trump has repeatedly threatened military action unless Iran restores shipping through the strait. He previously issued a 48-hour ultimatum warning that US forces would “obliterate” Iranian power plants if the waterway was not reopened, and followed it with additional deadlines and warnings targeting energy infrastructure.
On Saturday, he renewed that threat with a 48‑hour deadline, warning that “all hell will reign down” if Iran did not comply.
Iran’s central military command has rejected the ultimatum as “a helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action,” and has vowed that any strikes on its infrastructure would be met with devastating counterattacks on US and allied targets.
General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, representing the Khatam al-Anbiaa Central Headquarters, said the Iranian armed forces would not hesitate "for a moment" to defend the country's rights and protect national assets and "will put the aggressors in their place."
While media reports have sometimes described the waterway as “blocked,” the situation is more nuanced. Tehran has leveraged its control over parts of the strait to restrict traffic, particularly vessels linked to the US, Israel, and allied nations, while allowing other international ships, including those from India, Pakistan, Japan, and even France, to transit under certain conditions.
Tehran has stated the strait remains open to “non‑hostile” or approved vessels, and has even exempted Iraqi ships from restrictions.
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