US President, Donald Trump has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face overwhelming military action, as the intensifying conflict entered a new phase marked by downed aircraft, widening regional strikes, and mounting fears over nuclear safety.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that hell would be let loose if Tehran failed to comply within the deadline, referencing earlier threats to target Iran’s energy infrastructure. The ultimatum followed a series of shifting deadlines and mixed signals from Washington, oscillating between threats of force and claims of ongoing diplomatic engagement.
Trump’s demand that Iran open the Strait came after a second Turkish ship made it through the Strait, the country’s Transportation Minister, Abdulkadir Uralolu, disclosed yesterday.
“This was possible due to our initiatives and also because these ships were using Iranian ports or were carrying cargo to or from Iran,” Uralolu told CNN Türk. The first Turkish vessel made it through on March 13 after receiving permission from Iran.
The conflict, launched jointly by the US and Israel on February 28, has now entered its sixth week, with thousands reported dead and global markets rattled by disruptions to oil flows through the Gulf.
“Remember when I gave Iran 10 days to make a Deal or Open Up the Hormuz Strait. Time Is Running Out; 48 Hours Before All Hell Will Reign Down on Them,” Trump posted. “Glory be to God!” he concluded.
Trump’s reiteration of his Easter Monday deadline comes as the US continues its frantic search to locate a pilot whose F-15 was downed over Iran, following the successful rescue of a co-pilot. Iran has continued to fire missile attacks against Israel and the US Gulf allies.
Trump had previously announced the extension and 10-day deadline on March 26.
In a swift response, Iran issued a stark warning to the US and Israel, saying the Gulf region could become a “hell” for both countries if tensions escalate further.
Spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, while speaking to reporters yesterday, said: “If hostility escalates, the entire region will turn into hell for you; the illusion of defeating the Islamic Republic of Iran will become a quagmire into which you will sink.”
The warning was reinforced by the commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya headquarters, Ali Abdollahi, who added that “the gates of hell will be opened” for the US and Israel if aggressive actions continue.
Abdollahi condemned Trump’s comments, describing the US president as “aggressive and war-mongering,” and called the threat to attack Iran’s infrastructure “a desperate, agitated, unbalanced, and foolish move.”
He further warned that any US attack on Iranian infrastructure would prompt Tehran to retaliate by targeting facilities used by the US military and Israel “without limitation.”
The waterway is a critical link between the Red Sea and the Indian Ocean, handling significant volumes of oil, liquefied natural gas, and container traffic.
