LAST UPDATE | 5 Apr

DONALD TRUMP HAS issued a short social media post threatening Iran’s infrastructure unless a deal is made to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

The US President said, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!

“Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President Donald J. TRUMP.”

Truth Social Truth Social

It’s the latest in a string of threats issued by the US president as he grows further frustrated by Iran’s closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the US’s failure to quickly achieve its stated aims in Iran.

The closure of the Hormuz Strait, through which about a fifth of the world’s crude oil is transported, has had unprecedented economic consequences globally. The effect on fuel and oil prices and uncertainty over the US position in Iran has seen Trump’s approval rating as head of the US tank.

Yesterday, Trump said Iran had 48 hours left to make a deal on opening the vital strait or face “Hell”.

“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote on Truth Social, referring to his ultimatum issued on 26 March.

“Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them,” the president said, adding: “Glory be to GOD!”

Trump had initially threatened on 21 March to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants, beginning with the country’s biggest, “if Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS.”

Two days later, however, he said “very good and productive conversations” were being held with Iranian authorities, and that he had postponed any strikes on power plants for five days.

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He later again pushed the deadline back, to expire at 1am Irish time on Tuesday.

In a separate conflict between the US and Iran, Trump today said that a US service member who had been missing in Iran since the fighter jet he was travelling in was shot down by Iranian forces on Friday had been rescued in a “daring operation”, but Iran’s military refuted how successful the mission was.

The US special forces mission to rescue the airforce member was “completely foiled”, Iran said. It did not claim to have captured the aviator.