WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump warned Iran it has 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face severe military consequences, escalating rhetoric as the conflict in the Middle East intensifies.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten 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. Glory be to GOD!” Trump, who remained at the White House, wrote on {a href=”{<}iframe src=”https://truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump/116346816254869135/embed” class=”truthsocial-embed” style=”max-width: 100%; border: 0″ width=”600″ allowfullscreen=”allowfullscreen”{>}{<}/iframe{>}{<}script src=”https://truthsocial.com/embed.js” async=”async”{>}{<}/script{>}”}Truth Social on Saturday morning.
The ultimatum follows the April 6 deadline Trump had given Iran to reach a deal or restore access to the Strait of Hormuz, which has been disrupted amid Operation Epic Fury.
U.S. officials said the conflict, now entering its sixth week, has already drawn in multiple countries and disrupted global energy markets.
The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply, making it a strategic chokepoint whose closure has rattled markets and raised fears of broader economic fallout.
Trump’s warning signals the potential for further escalation at a time when diplomatic efforts remain uncertain, with Iran indicating mixed signals about participating in peace talks.
The threat also comes as the U.S. military is searching for a missing service member after two American warplanes went down in separate incidents, including what officials said is the first confirmed shoot-down since the war with Iran started nearly six weeks ago.
One fighter jet was shot down over a remote area in southwestern Iran, according to officials. One crew member was rescued, while another remained unaccounted for on Saturday morning as search-and-rescue operations continue.
In a separate incident, an A-10 aircraft went down over the Persian Gulf. Iranian state media said the jet was hit by air defenses, but an official told the Associated Press it remains unclear whether the aircraft was shot down or crashed.
The Trump administration hasn’t made an official comment on the U.S. fighter jet.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.