President Trump on Saturday threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if it doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the next two days.
Trump’s warning comes one day after he hinted that the U.S. was “winding down” its military operation in Iran, claiming the U.S. was “getting very close” to achieving its objective.
“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 on Truth Social.
The president has said international allies needed to escort ships traveling through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been closed since the start of the conflict. Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, reaffirmed that the strait remain closed until the conflict ends.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), a war hawk and Trump ally, urged Trump to consider removing U.S. military bases from countries “who won’t let us fly from them.” Both Republicans have slammed NATO allies for not supporting the U.S.’s attempts to reopen the strait.
The strait’s closure has left vessels stranded. Some that have continued their transit through the waterway have faced Iranian retaliatory attacks.
Closing the strait has resulted in a massive spike in oil and gas prices. The national average for gas reached $3.93 as of Saturday, according to data from AAA. The national average last month, prior to the conflict, was $2.94.
Trump has suggested he would take over the strait and is weighing a mission to takeover Iran’s Kharg Island, which handles 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports. Taking over the island would require boots on the ground, though the president has said he will not deploy ground troops to Iran.
