United States President Donald Trump has once again published a harsh statement on the TruthSocial social network, in which he threatened Iran with “strikes on key infrastructure” and demanded the opening of the Strait of Hormuz.
In the post, he said that “Tuesday (7 April – ed.) will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day in Iran,” hinting at possible attacks on the country’s energy and transport facilities.
Trump harshly urged Tehran to open the strait, threatening “serious consequences if it refuses.”
“Open the damn strait, you crazy bastards, otherwise you will live in hell – just watch! Praise be to Allah,” the US leader noted.
Later on social network he specified that Iran has until 20:00 Tuesday Eastern time (according to Kiev it is until 3 a.m. Wednesday 8 April).
There is no official Iranian reaction to Trump’s statement yet. Tensions around the Strait of Hormuz remain high, as this route is key to the world’s oil supplies.
Trump has already made several similar threats to bomb Iranian power plants to delay or postpone deadlines following claims of progress in talks with Iranian leaders.
Earlier, Trump wrote that Iran has two days left to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump recalled that he had given Iran 10 days to “make an agreement” or “open the Strait of Hormuz.”
“Time is running out – (there are) 48 hours left before all hell breaks loose on them (Iran – ed.),” the American president emphasised.
At the same time, Trump did not specify exactly what measures on Iran he might take.
Subsequently, it became apparent that the Iranian command rejects Trump’s ultimatum, which is “helpless and nervous”.
Trump said on 1 April that the United States was close to “finishing the job” in Iran, while warning that American troops would continue to strike the country “extremely hard” for another “two to three weeks”.
“We’re going to take them back to the stone age where they belong,” Trump said.
In his first address to the nation since the conflict began, Trump hailed the “swift, decisive and convincing victories” of U.S. troops in Iran and said his administration’s strategic goals were “nearing completion” and the military operation would be completed “very soon.”
“Over the past four weeks, our armed forces have won quick, decisive, convincing victories on the battlefield – victories that few have seen before,” he said.
Tehran has previously offered its own proposal for managing the Strait of Hormuz, saying it is working with neighbouring Oman on a system that would require ships to obtain permits and special licences to transit the waterway.
The idea was rejected by European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, who said on social media that international law does not recognise a fee scheme for passage.
Only a small number of ships have travelled through the Strait of Hormuz since the war in the Middle East began. Most have been vessels associated with countries Iran considers friendly. A system is now emerging whereby Tehran pre-approves transit via a route close to its coast. Pakistan, in particular, has reached an agreement to cross the strait under its flag, and other Asian countries have also provided safe passage.