President Trump is giving Iran until this evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and despite questions whether targeting these power plants would constitute *** war crime against Iranians, Trump administration officials are backing the president’s threat. President Trump issued that 48 hour ultimatum on social media, threatening to hit various power plants, starting with the biggest one first. Iran is already pushing back, threatening to retaliate by attacking US allies across the Middle East. Including electrical plants that power US military bases, it caps days of mixed messaging for President Trump, who claimed on Friday that the war was almost over just hours after officials confirmed the deployment of thousands more US troops and warships to the region. And while the president has publicly criticized allies for failing to step up and help, NATO confirms at least 22 countries are now coming together to secure the Strait of Hormuz. Reporting in Washington, I’m Amy Lou.

Trump to Iran: Reopen Strait of Hormuz today or face power plant bombings

President Donald Trump has given Iran until Monday evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to attack power plants if the demand is not met.

Updated: 6:08 AM CDT Mar 23, 2026

Editorial Standards ⓘ

President Donald Trump is giving Iran until Monday evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international trade and oil shipping or face an attack on its power plants. The president issued the 48-hour ultimatum on social media Saturday.”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!” the president wrote.Despite concerns about potential war crimes if plants were struck, Trump administration officials appeared to support the president’s threat.”I think the president will keep all options on the table to secure these objectives,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said. “And as a veteran, as a parent, I thank God he is not kicking the can like so many administrations have for fifty years, until this is a catastrophic problem where we have very limited options to deal with, much less an entire Middle East potentially awash in nukes.”Iran is already pushing back, threatening to retaliate by attacking U.S. allies across the Middle East, including electrical plants that power U.S. military bases.Still, the president’s ultimatum caps days of mixed messaging from Trump, who claimed on Friday that the war was almost over, just hours after officials confirmed the deployment of thousands more U.S. troops and at least three warships to the region.While the president has publicly criticized allies for failing to help, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirms that at least 22 countries are now coming together to consider helping secure the Strait of Hormuz.”Since Thursday, 22 countries, most of them NATO, but also Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain, the UAE, have come together to basically answer three questions: What do we need? When do we need it? And where do we need it?” Rutte said on Sunday. “These three questions are now worked through to answer the president’s call, to make sure that we secure the free sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.” Gas prices are still climbing as a result of the war. The national average as of Monday morning stands at $3.96 a gallon, according to AAA, nearly a dollar more than when the war in Iran started. The Trump administration is taking additional steps to ease soaring gas prices by lifting sanctions on Iranian oil for the first time in decades, which in theory would add to global supply and drive down the price of oil.Watch the latest coverage on the war in Iran:

WASHINGTON —

President Donald Trump is giving Iran until Monday evening to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for international trade and oil shipping or face an attack on its power plants.

The president issued the 48-hour ultimatum on social media Saturday.

“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!” the president wrote.

Despite concerns about potential war crimes if plants were struck, Trump administration officials appeared to support the president’s threat.

“I think the president will keep all options on the table to secure these objectives,” U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said. “And as a veteran, as a parent, I thank God he is not kicking the can like so many administrations have for fifty years, until this is a catastrophic problem where we have very limited options to deal with, much less an entire Middle East potentially awash in nukes.”

Iran is already pushing back, threatening to retaliate by attacking U.S. allies across the Middle East, including electrical plants that power U.S. military bases.

Still, the president’s ultimatum caps days of mixed messaging from Trump, who claimed on Friday that the war was almost over, just hours after officials confirmed the deployment of thousands more U.S. troops and at least three warships to the region.

While the president has publicly criticized allies for failing to help, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte confirms that at least 22 countries are now coming together to consider helping secure the Strait of Hormuz.

“Since Thursday, 22 countries, most of them NATO, but also Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Bahrain, the UAE, have come together to basically answer three questions: What do we need? When do we need it? And where do we need it?” Rutte said on Sunday. “These three questions are now worked through to answer the president’s call, to make sure that we secure the free sailing through the Strait of Hormuz.”

Gas prices are still climbing as a result of the war. The national average as of Monday morning stands at $3.96 a gallon, according to AAA, nearly a dollar more than when the war in Iran started.

The Trump administration is taking additional steps to ease soaring gas prices by lifting sanctions on Iranian oil for the first time in decades, which in theory would add to global supply and drive down the price of oil.

Watch the latest coverage on the war in Iran: