Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Closure

President Trump has given Iran exactly 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. attacks on Iranian power facilities. The ultimatum comes as oil prices surge and Iran continues missile strikes against Israeli cities near nuclear facilities.

President Donald Trump delivered a stark ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, warning the United States will destroy Iranian power facilities if Tehran fails to completely reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The president issued the warning through a social media post while spending his weekend at his Florida residence.

Trump stated he is providing Iran with exactly 48 hours to reopen the critical shipping lane or encounter a fresh series of strikes. He warned the U.S. would target “various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”

The president is under mounting pressure to secure the waterway as petroleum costs continue climbing.

Meanwhile, Iran launched attacks on two towns near Israel’s primary nuclear research facility late Saturday, damaging structures and seriously wounding at least seven individuals. This occurred hours after Tehran’s principal nuclear enrichment location was struck, escalating the conflict into dangerous new territory as it enters its fourth week.

This marked the first instance Israel’s nuclear research facility has been targeted during the hostilities. Israeli forces reported they could not stop missiles that struck the southern communities of Dimona and Arad, the largest settlement near the facility in Israel’s thinly populated Negev desert.

“This is a very difficult evening,” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, noting that additional emergency resources were being dispatched to the area.

“The war is not close to ending,” Israel’s army chief, Gen. Eyal Zamir, remarked earlier Saturday.

Iran additionally struck the joint British-American Diego Garcia military installation in the Indian Ocean approximately 2,500 miles distant, indicating Tehran possesses missiles with greater range than previously recognized — or utilized its space program for an improvised launch.

The conflict’s impact extends well beyond the Middle East, driving up food and energy costs globally.

The extent of damage Iran has experienced from U.S. and Israeli strikes beginning February 28 remains unclear — as does who is actually leading the country. Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has not appeared publicly since assuming the position.

Video from Israel’s emergency services revealed a large crater beside what looked like residential buildings with exterior walls torn away. The missile seemed to have hit an open space.

Emergency responders reported the direct strike in Arad caused extensive damage to at least 10 apartment complexes, with three severely damaged and at risk of collapse. A minimum of 64 people were transported to medical facilities.

Dimona sits approximately 20 kilometers (12 miles) west of the nuclear research center while Arad is roughly 35 kilometers (21 miles) north.

Israel is thought to be the sole Middle Eastern nation possessing nuclear weapons, though its officials refuse to acknowledge or deny their existence. The UN nuclear monitoring agency reported on social media it had not received information about damage to the Israeli facility or unusual radiation readings.

Israel denied involvement in Saturday’s strike on the Natanz nuclear facility, located nearly 220 kilometers (135 miles) southeast of Tehran. The Iranian judiciary’s official news service, Mizan, reported no contamination occurred.

The International Atomic Energy Agency has indicated most of Iran’s estimated 970 pounds (440 kilograms) of enriched uranium is located elsewhere, buried beneath debris at its Isfahan facility. The agency stated on social media it was investigating the attack.

The Pentagon refused to comment on the Natanz strike, which was also hit during the war’s first week and in last June’s 12-day conflict. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova warned such strikes created a “real risk of catastrophic disaster throughout the Middle East.”

Iran responded with retaliatory strikes hours later.

British officials provided no specifics about Friday’s unsuccessful strike targeting the Diego Garcia base. Britain’s Ministry of Defense characterized Iran as “lashing out across the region.”

The proximity of the missiles to the island remains unknown. Iran has previously claimed it limits its missile range to under 2,000 kilometers (over 1,200 miles).

Military analysts suggested Iran may have employed its space launch vehicle for an improvised attack. “If you’ve got a space program, you’ve got a ballistic missile program,” explained Steve Prest, a retired Royal Navy commodore.

Israel’s army chief, however, claimed Iran had launched “a two-stage intercontinental ballistic missile.” Iran issued no official statement.

Britain has not joined U.S.-Israeli attacks but has permitted American bombers to operate from its bases for strikes on Iran’s missile installations. Friday, the U.K. government announced bombers could utilize Diego Garcia for attacks on sites used to target vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

With Iran threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, the United Arab Emirates joined 21 other nations including Britain, Germany, France and Japan in declaring “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage.”

The Trump administration announced temporary suspension of sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto ships as of Friday, though this does not boost oil production, a key factor in rising prices. Iran’s oil ministry, which has circumvented sanctions for years, responded that it “essentially has no crude oil left in floating storage.”

U.S. Central Command chief Adm. Brad Cooper claimed Iran’s capacity to attack strait vessels had been “degraded.” He reported 5,000-pound (2,270-kilogram) bombs were dropped earlier this week on an underground coastal facility Iran used to store anti-ship cruise missiles and mobile launchers.

The U.S. is sending three additional amphibious assault vessels and approximately 2,500 more Marines to the Middle East, an official informed The Associated Press. Two other U.S. officials confirmed ship deployments without specifying destinations. All three requested anonymity to discuss the operations.

Gulf nations reported additional attacks. A missile warning sounded Saturday evening in Dubai. Saudi Arabia announced it intercepted 20 drones in its eastern region, home to major petroleum facilities.

Iran’s war casualties have exceeded 1,500, state television reported, citing the health ministry. In Israel, 15 people have died from Iranian missiles and four others have perished in the occupied West Bank. At least 13 U.S. military personnel have been killed, along with over a dozen civilians in Gulf states.