U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran 48 hours to clear the Strait of Hormuz, warning to strike Iran’s power plants if the strait does not become open.
In a social media statement, the President stated that “If we are attacked, we will hit and destroy Iran’s energy plants starting with the largest and Iran’s energy supply will cease to exist.” He further added that Iran needs to allow shipments to continue without conditions.
One of the most important points globally and handling about twenty percent of the world’s supply of gas and oil, the Strait of Hormuz is now one of the most critical chokepoints in the world with energy prices surging globally due to restrictions on its passage and a lot of worry on supply lines.
The ultimatum comes as tensions grow between the United States and Iran, the dispute in the Persian Gulf now having significant consequences on shipping lines, following attacks on commercial ships and military threats over the area.
The escalation in actions from an earlier threatened military strike to targeting power plants has raised a lot of international concern.
Iran retaliated saying that any attack on its infrastructure would be met with striking US and its allies’ power and strategic sites in the region.
This escalation of tensions comes after rapid missile launches toward regional targets, even missing a US-UK target in Diego Garcia, as the conflict continues to expand.
Global trade lines are already being altered, as shipping lines reroute their ships away from the Persian Gulf for security reasons, therefore cutting the supply of oil and tightening up oil markets globally.
