U.S. President Donald Trump has demanded that Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, threatening military action if the ultimatum is not met. In a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, Trump stated that failure to comply would result in the United States targeting and destroying Iran’s power plants, starting with the largest.
This statement was made public on March 22, coinciding with heightened tensions in the Middle East. The Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage, has been blocked by Iran since the onset of recent conflicts in the region. Approximately 20 million barrels of oil per day, accounting for about one-fifth of global maritime oil exports, transit through this strait.
The blockade has already led to a significant rise in oil prices, prompting the International Energy Agency to release a historic volume of reserves, approximately 400 million barrels, to stabilize the market. In response to the situation, the United States has also temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil currently at sea, as well as on Iranian oil.
President Trump's ultimatum to Iran regarding the Strait of Hormuz highlights escalating tensions in the region, with potential implications for global oil markets. The blockade has already affected oil prices and prompted significant actions from international energy authorities.