Donald Trump on Saturday issued a stark warning to Iran, saying the country would face severe consequences if it fails to agree to a ceasefire or reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday—the latest deadline in an ultimatum he has already extended twice.
Trump has repeatedly cautioned that the United States could target Iran’s power infrastructure if Tehran does not meet Washington’s demands. Meanwhile, a senior Israeli defense official revealed that Israel is preparing potential strikes on Iranian energy facilities, possibly within the coming week, but is awaiting approval from the US.
In a post on his platform, Truth Social, Trump reiterated his warning, stating that Iran has just 48 hours left before facing what he described as devastating consequences. He emphasized that time was running out for Tehran to either make a deal or open the vital waterway.
The tensions follow a series of shifting deadlines. Trump initially issued a 48-hour ultimatum on March 21, threatening action against Iran’s power grid if a ceasefire agreement was not reached. Just before that deadline expired on March 23, he extended it by five days, citing progress in talks. Later, he pushed it again—this time by 10 days to April 6—claiming the extension came at Iran’s request.
However, Iran has denied both requesting more time and engaging in negotiations with the US. Reports suggest that diplomatic efforts to resolve the standoff have stalled.
Reacting sharply, Iranian military official Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi dismissed the US warning as irrational and reckless. Using similarly strong language, he cautioned that any such move would bring serious consequences for the United States.
Following these remarks, Trump posted again on social media, sharing footage of an airstrike in Iran and claiming it had resulted in the deaths of several Iranian military leaders, whom he criticized for their leadership. He did not elaborate on the details of the strike or its targets.
