US President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding it open the Strait of Hormuz within two days.
“If Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz fully and without threats within 48 hours of this moment, the United States of America will strike and destroy their various power plants, starting with the largest,” Trump wrote on his own Truth Social network.
Trump’s post on the social network Truth Social was published on the night of 22 March Kiev time.
Iran blocked the Strait of Hormuz after war broke out in the Middle East. Up to a fifth of all offshore oil exports (about 20 million barrels per day), as well as liquefied natural gas, used to pass through the strait. The fallout from this volume has already sent oil prices soaring and forced the International Energy Agency to open up reserves, releasing the largest volume in history of about 400 million barrels to the market. The U.S. has also temporarily lifted sanctions on Russian oil on ships at sea, as well as Iranian oil.