President Donald Trump warned Iran it has 48 hours to make a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz, otherwise “all Hell will reign down” on the country, as the president doubles down on a previous threat he made to destroy Iran’s energy plants.
Trump doubled down on a threat he made to destroy Iran’s energy plants unless it reopens the Strait of Hormuz. (Photo by Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images)
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Key Takeaways
- “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social Saturday morning.
- Trump’s post re-ups a previous threat he made in March, in which he said he would give Iran 10 days to open up the Strait of Hormuz, otherwise the United States would destroy its energy plants, giving Iran a deadline of April 6 at 8 p.m. EST.
- In a post earlier this week, Trump said the United States is in “serious discussions” with Iran to end the war, but he threatened if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened “immediately,” the United States would respond by “completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island,” a major oil port.
- Throughout the war, Trump has made conflicting statements on talks with Iran and reopening the Strait of Hormuz, suggesting in a post on Friday the United States could “easily” reopen the strait with more time, “take the oil” and “make a fortune,” though he did not elaborate on how the strait would be opened.
- He has previously suggested the strait may open “naturally” when the conflict is over, and he told reporters last month the United States doesn’t use the strait and that other countries that do need it “have to get involved a little bit.”
Tangent
Trump’s threat to Iran comes as U.S. and Iranian forces race to find a missing American pilot whose fighter jet was shot down by Iran on Friday. Iran downed an F-15E Strike Eagle jet, the first American jet Iran has shot down in the conflict, after which American forces located one of two crew members, who was receiving medical treatment as of Friday. Trump has remained largely quiet on the missing pilot, declining to elaborate on specifics about the search in an interview with NBC News while claiming the incident would not negatively impact negotiations to end the war. Iran has urged local residents through state media to find the “enemy pilot,” promising a reward.
Key Background
Trump has continued aggressive rhetoric against Iran and has threatened further attacks, while also claiming the war will end soon. In his address to the nation Wednesday, Trump said the military will “complete” its objectives “very shortly,” but he warned the United States will strike Iran “extremely hard” over the next several weeks.
In a post on Truth Social earlier this week, Trump flaunted an attack that destroyed a bridge in Tehran, warning, “Much more to follow!” and, “IT IS TIME FOR IRAN TO MAKE A DEAL BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE.” Trump claimed earlier this week Iran asked for a ceasefire, which Iranian officials denied. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested in a post Saturday Iran may be willing to attend possible peace talks in Pakistan, saying, “What we care about are the terms of a conclusive and lasting END to the illegal war that is imposed on us.”
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