world 21 March 2026 Daily Monitor (Uganda)
Trump Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran: Open Hormuz or Face Power Plant Destruction
U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran of strikes on its power plants if it fails to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, marking a sharp escalation in the ongoing conflict. The threats come amid rising energy prices, Iranian missile attacks on distant targets, and strikes near Israel's nuclear sites. Source: https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/news/world/trump-threatens-iran-with-power-plant-strikes-over-hormuz-oil-blockade-5398970
U.S. President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on social media, demanding Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz without threats within 48 hours or face U.S. strikes obliterating its power plants, starting with the largest.
This ultimatum shifts U.S. actions toward Iran’s civilian infrastructure, like the massive Damavand plant near Tehran, amid a conflict now in its fourth week that has killed over 2,000 people.
Iran’s partial blockade of the strait, vital for one-fifth of global oil and LNG, has driven energy prices skyward, with European gas surging 35% last week after Iran damaged Qatar’s key LNG facility in retaliation to an Israeli strike.
Iran’s military vowed to hit U.S. energy, IT, and desalination sites in the Gulf if provoked. Tensions rose as Iran fired 4,000 km-range ballistic missiles at the U.S.-British base at Diego Garcia, capable of reaching European capitals, in its first such long-range use since attacks began on February 28.
Iranian strikes also hit southern Israeli cities Dimona and Arad, injuring dozens including children near military sites and Israel’s nuclear reactor. Israel responded with strikes on Tehran, while Trump criticized NATO allies for hesitancy in aiding strait operations.
Trump’s messaging has swung from de-escalation talks to this countdown, fueling U.S. domestic worries over inflation from energy shocks ahead of elections.
Source: Daily Monitor (Uganda)