Iran Vows to Close Strait of Hormuz If Trump Targets Iranian Energy Infrastructure

President Donald Trump issued a dramatic 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, threatening to 'obliterate' the country's power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the specified timeframe.

“ByKevin Shalvey, Jon Haworth, Nadine El-Bawab, and Meredith Deliso Last Updated: March 22, 2026, 10:06 AM MDT The Strait of Hormuz is open to everyone aside from Tehran’s "enemies," Iran’s representative to the International Maritime Organization, Ali Mousavi, told the semi-official Mehr News Agency on Sunday”

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Trump posted on Truth Social: '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!'

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This threat represents a significant escalation barely a day after Trump had talked about 'winding down' the war, creating confusion about the administration's strategic direction.

The ultimatum came as the conflict entered its fourth week with the strait effectively closed, oil prices soaring, and global energy markets increasingly unstable.

Iran swiftly responded to Trump's threat with multiple warnings of retaliation, including vows to close the Strait of Hormuz and target critical infrastructure across the Middle East.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X that if Iran's power plants are targeted, then vital infrastructure across the Gulf region would become 'legitimate targets' and be 'irreversibly destroyed,' warning this would increase oil prices for an extended period.

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Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters issued a more specific threat, stating that if the U.S. attacks Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure, Iran would target 'all energy infrastructure, as well as information technology (IT) and water desalination facilities' linked to the U.S. in the region.

Iranian officials have maintained that the strait remains open to vessels from countries other than Iran's enemies, though attacks have effectively stopped most maritime traffic.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a critical battleground in the escalating conflict due to its immense strategic and economic importance.

“Iran threatens to ‘completely’ close Strait of Hormuz and hit power plants after Trump ultimatum Iran threatens to ‘completely’ close Strait of Hormuz and hit power plants after Trump ultimatum ARAD, Israel (AP) — The United States and Iran threatened to target critical infrastructure Sunday as the war in the Middle East, now in its fourth week, puts lives and livelihoods at risk throughout the region”

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Approximately one-fifth of global oil supply passes through this narrow waterway connecting the Persian Gulf to the rest of the world, making its closure a major threat to global energy markets.

Since the war began, attacks and threats have stopped nearly all tanker traffic through the strait, causing oil prices to surge dramatically.

Brent crude has risen nearly 50% to $112 a barrel since the start of the war, while U.S. retail gas prices have increased by 93 cents per gallon.

The International Energy Agency has called this 'the largest supply disruption in the history of the global oil market,' with gas prices rising about 33 percent in just three weeks.

European gas prices have surged as much as 35% due to the near-closure of this vital energy corridor.

The escalating threats over the Strait of Hormuz come amid growing concern about the broader conflict's expansion and humanitarian consequences.

Iran has demonstrated its military reach by launching long-range ballistic missiles at the joint U.K.-U.S. military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, marking the first time Tehran has used such missiles since the war began.

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Meanwhile, Iranian missiles struck communities in southern Israel near the country's main nuclear research center, injuring dozens of people and causing significant damage.

The death toll from the war has continued to rise, with more than 1,500 people killed in Iran, over 1,000 in Lebanon, 15 in Israel, and 13 U.S. military members.

The conflict has also displaced more than 1 million people in Lebanon and caused internet blackouts that have affected millions of civilians in Iran.

As the situation deteriorates, international organizations and legal experts have expressed grave concerns about potential war crimes and the disproportionate impact on civilian populations.

International reactions to the escalating crisis have been mixed, with some countries expressing concern while others have taken concrete diplomatic or military actions.

“The Strait of Hormuz remains open to all shipping except vessels linked to “Iran’s enemies”, Iran’s representative to the U”

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European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas held phone calls with Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araqchi as well as counterparts from Turkey, Qatar, and South Korea 'on the war in the Middle East, attacks on energy infrastructure, and the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.'

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Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez demanded the strait be opened, warning that 'further escalation could trigger a long-term energy crisis for all humanity.'

Meanwhile, 22 countries including the U.K., Germany, France, and Japan expressed 'readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage' through the strait.

However, the Trump administration's request for U.S. allies to send warships to protect tankers has been largely unsuccessful, with most countries unwilling to participate in the military operations.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent defended the administration's approach, stating that 'sometimes you have to escalate to de-escalate' when pressed about whether the U.S. was scaling back or escalating the war.