Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: US President Donald Trump threatened to hit and obliterate Iran’s power plants within 48 hours if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, even as he said Washington was close to meeting its military objectives in the conflict.
In a series of posts, Trump issued a direct ultimatum over the strategic waterway, saying: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS… the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
The warning marks a sharp escalation centred on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy route, even as Trump signalled that US military operations could soon wind down. “We are getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East,” he said.
Trump outlined five key goals of the campaign, including “completely degrading Iranian Missile Capability, Launchers, and everything else pertaining to them” and “destroying Iran’s Defense Industrial Base.”
He said the US had also moved to dismantle Iran’s military strength, including “eliminating their Navy and Air Force, including Anti-Aircraft Weaponry.” Trump emphasised that preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear capability remained central to US strategy. “Never allowing Iran to get even close to Nuclear Capability, and always being in a position where the USA can quickly and powerfully react,” he said.
He added that Washington was committed to “protecting, at the highest level, our Middle Eastern Allies, including Israel, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Kuwait, and others.”
