The president’s attempt to bully Iran into submission didn’t go as planned.
On Saturday evening, the 79-year-old commander-in-chief threatened to “obliterate” Iran ’s power plants if the country did not end its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.Sunday that Iran would “irreversibly” destroy critical infrastructure of its neighbors in the Middle East—including energy and oil facilities—should Trump follow through on his threat to hit the country’s electricity grid,Trump is already scrambling to contain the economic consequences from the war he started more than three weeks ago.
Gas prices in the U.S. have spiked roughly 30 percent as Iran has blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway that transports up to a fifth of global oil supplies. Trump appears to have issued his ultimatum to compel Iran to back down from the strait—but it appears to have had the opposite effect. Iran’s powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned it would seal off the strait if the U.S. targets its power infrastructure. Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a major shipping lane for global energy supplies, has rattled oil markets and pushed up prices.“The Strait of Hormuz will be completely closed and will not be opened until our destroyed power plants are rebuilt,” the Guards said in a statement, Reuters reports. The possibility of tit-for-tat attacks on civilian infrastructure could further roil global markets and intensifies fears that American allies in the Middle East will be drawn deeper into the conflict.Strikes on critical infrastructure would be devastating for Iran’s Gulf neighbors, whose per‑capita electricity use far outstrips Iran’s and whose booming desert cities depend heavily on energy‑intensive desalination plants for nearly all of their drinking water. Trump’s ultimatum got off on a confusing note from the beginning, coming just an hour after he claimed that the U.S. has “blown Iran off of the map” and that the country has “no defense” and wants to “make a deal.” “I don’t!” he said. The escalation also raised legal red flags since targeting civilian infrastructure, like power plants, can be considered a war crime under international law.are set to be deployed to the region, and strikes continue to escalate. The war has killed 13 U.S. service members and more than 1,000 civilians in Iran.
Iran Saudi-Arabia United-Arab-Emirates War Tehran
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Kings face a formidable back-to-back challengeOn Saturday, the Kings host Buffalo, which has been dominant since December, then travel to Utah, which is closing in on an elusive postseason berth.
Read more »
Islanders must make tough Ilya Sorokin call for critical back-to-back with David Rittich strugglingThe Islanders did not practice here Friday, meaning there were no clues on offer as to how they’ll approach the goaltending decisions.
Read more »
Trump Gives Iran 48-Hour Ultimatum to Reopen Hormuz StraitThe president warned he would “hit and obliterate“ Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened within 48 hours.
Read more »
Avery Neff wins all-around as Red Rocks claim back-to-back Big 12 gymnastics titlesJosh is the sports director at KSL and beat writer covering University of Utah athletics — primarily football, men’s and women's basketball and gymnastics. He is also an Associated Press Top 25 voter for college football.
Read more »
Trump's Ultimatum to Iran: A Standoff with Global ImplicationsPresident Trump's threat of a major strike against Iran, in response to its actions in the Strait of Hormuz, has escalated the ongoing conflict. Experts question the effectiveness of the ultimatum, as Iran vows retaliation, impacting global oil markets.
Read more »
Trump's Ultimatum to Iran: A Standoff Over the Strait of HormuzPresident Trump's 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, concerning the Strait of Hormuz, faces threats of retaliation from Tehran, raising concerns of further escalation in a volatile region. Experts express skepticism that the ultimatum will change Iran's resolve, with the situation's complexity exacerbated by ongoing attacks and economic consequences.
Read more »