Based on reporting from WORLD wng.org
U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that American forces will begin destroying Iranian power plants if the waterway remains closed. The ultimatum was issued on Saturday night in the United States, placing the deadline at late Tuesday afternoon New Zealand time.
The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important energy corridors, carrying the equivalent of about 20 percent of global petroleum consumption in 2024. Trump said the route could be secured by other nations but confirmed the United States was willing to assist.
The ultimatum comes more than three weeks after the United States and Israel began large‑scale, coordinated strikes on Iranian military and industrial sites. Trump said on Friday he was considering winding down U.S. operations in the Middle East, but the closure of the Strait has prompted renewed pressure on Tehran.
A total of 22 countries — including New Zealand — have signed a joint statement calling for Iran to reopen the Strait. The signatories say they are prepared to support “appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait,” while also urging an immediate halt to all attacks on civilian infrastructure. The United Kingdom, several European nations, the United Arab Emirates, Japan, and South Korea are among those backing the statement.
Meanwhile, the conflict continues to escalate. More than 80 people were injured in southern Israel on Saturday night when an Iranian ballistic missile struck a building, according to The Jerusalem Post. Ten of the injured remain in critical condition.
The Washington-based Institute for the Study of War reports that U.S. and Israeli forces continued targeting Iranian defence‑industrial facilities over the weekend. Iran attempted to fire two ballistic missiles at a U.S.–U.K. naval support station in the Indian Ocean, but one missile malfunctioned and the other was intercepted.
