President Donald Trump threatens to destroy Iranian power plants if Hormuz not opened

President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, March 21, 2026, giving the country 48 hours to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its power plants, starting with the largest facility first.

The warning, delivered via Trump's Truth Social platform, escalated tensions in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli conflict with Iran that began in late February.

Al-Jazeera Net

Trump's threat came amid mounting global energy concerns as the critical waterway, which carries approximately one-fifth of global oil supplies, remained effectively closed due to Iranian actions and insurance company fears.

The president's aggressive stance positioned him against Iran's clear rejection of any external pressure regarding control of the strategic strait, setting the stage for potential further military confrontation.

Iran responded forcefully to Trump's threat, with multiple officials warning of severe retaliatory measures against U.S. and Israeli interests in the region.

Iran's parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a stark warning that any attack on Iranian power plants would trigger strikes on 'critical infrastructure and energy and oil infrastructure throughout the region' that would be 'irreversibly destroyed.'

CNN

The Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters of Iran's armed forces issued an even more comprehensive threat, warning that attacks on Iran's fuel and energy infrastructure would result in targeting 'all infrastructure of energy, information technology, and desalination facilities' belonging to the U.S. and Israel in the region.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi directly challenged Trump, stating 'Tehran will not bow to the American threat regarding the Strait of Hormuz' and dismissing the notion that Iran had closed the vital waterway.

The Strait of Hormuz situation has created a severe global energy crisis, with Iran having effectively closed the vital waterway through attacks and threats that have deterred most tankers from navigating the passage.

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DW

The strait, through which roughly 20 million barrels of oil pass daily, has seen navigation restricted since Iran announced limitations on March 2 in response to ongoing American-Israeli aggression.

This blockade has compelled some of the world's largest oil producers to make production cuts because their crude has nowhere to go, directly contributing to surging global energy prices.

In the United States, the average gas price jumped from $2.98 per gallon two days before the war began to $3.94 per gallon by Sunday, March 22, representing a dramatic increase that has impacted consumers worldwide.

Iran maintains that the strait is only closed to U.S., Israeli, and allied ships, while blaming insurance companies for the effective closure due to war-related risks rather than Iranian actions.

The conflict has escalated militarily with Iran expanding its missile capabilities beyond the Middle East for the first time, firing long-range ballistic missiles at the U.S.-British military base at Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean.

The attack, which involved two intermediate-range ballistic missiles with a 4,000-kilometer range capable of reaching European capitals like London, Paris, and Berlin, marked a significant expansion of Iran's military reach.

Fortune

While the missiles failed to hit the target—one reportedly missing the island entirely and another being shot down by a U.S. warship—the demonstration of long-range capability sent shockwaves through the international community.

In response, British authorities acknowledged they were prepared to defend against potential Iranian missile assaults on London, though they noted there was no specific assessment of targeting intentions against the UK.

Meanwhile, Israel instructed its military to accelerate the demolition of Lebanese homes in 'frontline villages' and destroy bridges over Lebanon's Litani river, while Hezbollah claimed responsibility for an airstrike in northern Israel that killed one person, marking the first Israeli fatality from Lebanese fire since early March.

The human cost of the escalating conflict has been substantial, with more than 2,000 people killed across multiple countries since the U.S. and Israel launched their military operations against Iran on February 28.

“Iran threatens to cripple Gulf water and energy systems after Trump ultimatum Iran said on Sunday it would target Gulf energy and water infrastructure if U”

France 24

Lebanon has suffered the second-highest death toll after Iran, with civilian casualties mounting on both sides of the conflict.

France 24

The violence has upended global markets, spiked fuel costs, fueled inflation fears, and convulsed Western alliances.

Trump's administration has sent mixed signals about the conflict's direction, with the president initially suggesting he might 'wind down' operations while simultaneously deploying thousands more Marines and additional warships to the region.

The potential for tit-for-tat strikes on civilian infrastructure threatens to further destabilize the region and impact millions of civilians who rely on desalination plants for their water supply, particularly in Bahrain, Qatar, and parts of the United Arab Emirates where such facilities provide 100% and 80% of drinking water respectively.