Trump Warns Iran to Reopen Strait of Hormuz or Face Military Action
President Trump has issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening military strikes on infrastructure if demands are not met.
President Donald Trump has set a deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, warning of potential military strikes on Iranian infrastructure if the demand is not met. In a social media post, Trump stated, "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the [expletive] Strait, you crazy [expletive], or you'll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP."
Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf responded, warning that the U.S. president's "reckless moves" could lead to regional instability. He stated, "Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu's commands."
The escalation follows the rescue of a second crew member from a downed U.S. F-15E fighter jet in southwestern Iran. Iran released images of the aircraft wreckage but did not dispute the successful U.S. rescue operation.
Trump has previously extended deadlines for Iran to reopen the strait, contributing to rising oil prices. He suggested that negotiations are ongoing, telling Fox News, "If they don't make a deal and fast, I'm considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."
The U.S.-Israeli military campaign, initiated on February 28, has targeted Iranian infrastructure, including steel manufacturing sites and petrochemical plants. Iran has retaliated with attacks on economic infrastructure across the Gulf region.
International law experts have raised concerns about the legality of targeting civilian infrastructure. Oona A. Hathaway, a professor of international law at Yale University, stated, "If these threatened attacks were to be carried out, they would constitute war crimes. Immiserating the civilian population for bargaining leverage is not lawful."
The situation remains tense as the deadline approaches, with potential implications for regional stability and global oil markets.