Furious Trump issues threat to Iran demanding Strait of Hormuz is ‘FULLY OPENED’ in hours or America will ‘obliterate their power plants’… and there’s already a key target in sight

President Donald Trump issued a stark and escalating ultimatum to Iran on Saturday night, warning that the United States will ‘obliterate’ its power infrastructure within hours unless a critical global oil shipping route is immediately reopened.

In a dramatic post on Truth Social, Trump demanded action in 48 hours on the strategically-vital Strait of Hormuz – a narrow waterway through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.

Trump faces increasing pressure to secure the strait as Iran’s threats have effectively shut down the shipping lane, sending oil prices soaring.

‘If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!’ Trump wrote.

Iran’s largest nuclear power facility is the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant, located along the Persian Gulf.

The president’s message, posted in all-caps, marks one of his most direct threats yet – explicitly naming civilian infrastructure as a target, warning how the country would be plunged into darkness.

The post comes just a day after Trump had talked about ‘winding down’ the war and  suggests that a military escalation could be imminent if Tehran does not comply.

The warning follows as tensions in the region remain at a boiling point, with the Strait repeatedly disrupted by missile, drone and mine attacks during the ongoing conflict.

President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social that the US would ‘hit and obliterate’ Iran’s power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened within 48 hours

In a Truth Social post, Trump warned Iran it has 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face US strikes on its power infrastructure

The Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant is Iran’s most prominent and largest nuclear power facility, located along the Persian Gulf

In response, a spokesperson for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said the country would defend itself against US attacks, adding it would target regional energy infrastructure and desalination plants.

‘If the enemy attacks fuel and energy infrastructure, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted,’ a post on Telegram translated from Farsi read.

Earlier on Saturday evening, Trump declared how he has ‘blown Iran off the map’ and crushed its military power ‘weeks ahead of schedule’.

The sweeping claim comes even as his own administration signals a far more uncertain and contradictory reality on the ground.

In a fiery post, Trump lashed out at critics and insisted the war effort had already surpassed expectations.

‘The United States has blown Iran off of the map, and yet their lightweight analyst, David Sanger, says that I haven’t met my own goals. Yes I have, and weeks ahead of schedule!’ Trump wrote.

He continued with a barrage of claims about the state of Iran’s military.

‘Their leadership is gone, their navy and air force are dead, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. I don’t! We are weeks ahead of schedule.’

The plant is Iran’s only operational nuclear power station –  a key piece of the country’s civilian energy infrastructure

Because it is a nuclear facility, any military strike on it would carry serious environmental and geopolitical risks

Trump made the explosive claim in a Saturday night post on X, declaring the US had ‘blown Iran off of the map’ and surpassed its military objectives ‘weeks ahead of schedule’

The post also targeted David Sanger, the White House and National Security Correspondent for The New York Times, accusing the outlet of misrepresenting the success of the campaign.

But Trump’s triumphant tone stands in sharp contrast to a series of mixed and sometimes conflicting signals emerging from his administration about the trajectory of the war with Iran which is now entering its fourth week.

Within hours on Friday, Trump suggested the US could soon begin winding down its military operations writing: ‘We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East.’

At the same time, however, his administration confirmed it is sending additional forces into the region including three more warships and roughly 2,500 Marines.

Similarly, the president has looked to have European and Asian countries come to the aide of the US in protecting the strait with their militaries, yet he has also complained the allies are dragging their feet about joining in a fight they had no part in starting.

About 90 ships including oil tankers have crossed the Strait of Hormuz since the outset of the war with Iran and it is still exporting millions of barrels of oil at a time when the waterway has been effectively closed, according to maritime and trade data platforms

US Central Command tweeted its near-daily update of missile strikes on Iranian targets

Video shared by US Central Command showed targeted missile strikes including strikes aimed at trucks carrying weapons

Moments later the truck is seen being blasted to bits

The videos appear to be released on an almost daily basis

Many of the videos show missiles hitting their targets

Currently the number of US personnel supporting the conflict is at around 50,000.

Any additional buildup has only served to raise fresh questions on whether the war is truly nearing an end – or expanding.

Trump’s post comes as US Central Command shared another dramatic video on Saturday evening showing US missile strikes targeting weapons trucks, missile launchers and fighter jets being blown to bits.

‘US forces remain centered on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran’s ability to project power against Americans, and against its neighbors,’ Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM Commander tweeted along with the video.

Compounding the uncertainty, the administration also made the unusual decision to ease some sanctions on Iranian oil, allowing previously restricted shipments already at sea to enter global markets.

The move was framed as an effort to ease pressure on soaring energy prices, even as the US continues military operations against Tehran.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent acknowledged the strategy’s complexity in a post on X.

‘At present, sanctioned Iranian oil is being hoarded by China on the cheap.’

He added that unlocking the supply would bring ‘approximately 140 million barrels of oil to global markets,’ though analysts note that amount represents only a few days’ worth of global demand.

Apache helicopters have ‘joined the fight on the southern flank’ and said that some allies have used them to ‘handle one-way attack drones’

American forces have sent low-flying A-10 Warthogs to shoot at Iranian ships and drones

Civilians look upon the remains of a residential and commercial building on Saturday in the Shahrak-e Gharb neighborhood of Tehran, Iran. The building was hit on March 16 amid US and Israeli attacks and resulted in several civilian deaths and missing persons

A plume of smoke rises from the site of a strike in Tehran on March 17, 2026

Iranian families gather behind the ruins of a building in Tehran

Trump posted a similar message online on Friday as he suggested the war would soon be ‘winding down’

The economic fallout from the conflict has already been significant.

A combination of military strikes, disruption to key oil shipping routes, and instability around the Strait of Hormuz (through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil passes) has rattled global markets.

US stocks fell sharply on Friday, with the S&P 500 dropping 1.5 percent, while fuel prices surged amid fears of prolonged disruption.

Trump himself has sent mixed messages on the critical waterway.

In one post, he suggested the US would step back from securing it writing: ‘The Hormuz Strait will have to be guarded and policed, as necessary, by other Nations who use it – The United States does not!’

Yet in the same breath, he added that the US would assist if asked, ‘but it shouldn’t be necessary once Iran’s threat is eradicated.’

Even within his own party, the contradictions have drawn scrutiny.

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace openly questioned Trump’s approach to the war

Smoke rises after powerful explosions as the Israeli army announced a new wave of attacks on Tehran, the capital of Iran, on Saturday

A mother and son walk near a building destroyed in a strike, amid the U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran, in Tehran, Iran, on Saturday

 Emergency workers stand near the remains of a residential and commercial building on Saturday in the Shahrak-e Gharb neighborhood of Tehran, Iran. The building was hit on March 16 amid US and Israeli strikes and resulted in several civilian deaths and missing persons

Republican Rep. Nancy Mace openly questioned Trump’s approach posting to X on Saturday morning: ‘Bombing Iran with one hand and buying Iran oil with the other.’

Despite Trump’s insistence that Iran’s military has been effectively destroyed, the administration has not declared an official end to hostilities and indeed continues to prepare for further escalation.

The Pentagon is said to be seeking an additional $200 billion from Congress to fund ongoing operations, a figure that underscores the scale and potential duration of the conflict.

Trump has ruled out deploying large numbers of ground troops, but officials have not excluded the possibility of special forces operations in a sign that the war’s next phase remains uncertain.