Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran, Threatening Strikes on Power Plants

Trump’s latest remarks appear to contradict his Friday social media post, in which he suggested the U.S. was “getting very close” to winding down military efforts in the Middle East.

RMN News War Desk
New Delhi | March 22, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. — In a significant escalation of the ongoing conflict, United States President Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, demanding the full restoration of freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. If the waterway is not opened without threat within the timeframe, Trump warned that the U.S. will “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, beginning with the country’s largest facility.

The threat, posted to Truth Social on Saturday, comes as the US-Israeli war on Iran enters its fourth week. The closure of the vital waterway—which Iran vowed to keep shut to “enemy ships”—has already caused global oil prices to soar and stock markets to plunge. Approximately one-fifth of the world’s oil and gas supply passes through the strait during peacetime.

Iranian Retaliation and Regional Tensions

Tehran responded swiftly to the ultimatum, with the Iranian army stating it will target all U.S. energy infrastructure in the region if its own fuel and energy sites are attacked. This exchange follows recent Iranian missile strikes on southern Israel, which reportedly wounded dozens in Dimona and Arad.

Further complicating regional diplomacy, Saudi Arabia has declared several Iranian embassy staff persona non grata. Meanwhile, reports indicate that Israel has been targeting civilian infrastructure as a matter of policy, recently destroying a bridge in Lebanon.

Conflicting Signals from Washington

Trump’s latest remarks appear to contradict his Friday social media post, in which he suggested the U.S. was “getting very close” to winding down military efforts in the Middle East. The war originally began on February 28 while the U.S. and Iran were still engaged in nuclear negotiations.

There also appears to be a disconnect between the White House and military leadership regarding the current threat level. On Saturday, Admiral Brad Cooper, head of US Central Command, asserted that Iran’s ability to attack vessels has been “degraded”. This follows U.S. air strikes earlier this week that used 5,000-pound bombs to destroy an underground Iranian coastal facility used for storing anti-ship missiles and radar relays.

Despite these military claims, Trump remains under intense pressure to secure the waterway as the 48-hour clock continues to tick.