President Donald Trump posted a profane ultimatum on Truth Social on Easter Sunday, warning Iran it has until Tuesday to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. strikes on power plants and bridges.
Key Takeaways:
Trump threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges on April 7 if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened. The Strait of Hormuz handles roughly 20% of global oil supply, putting energy markets at risk during Operation Epic Fury. Trump told Fox News the U.S. sent weapons to Iranian protesters via Kurdish channels, estimating Iran killed 45,000 demonstrators. Trump Warns Iran on Easter Sunday: Open Strait or Lose Power Plants by TuesdayTrump has issued multiple prior ultimatums throughout the conflict. Some deadlines have passed without full Iranian compliance. This post, written on a major Christian holiday and closing with “Praise be to Allah,” drew immediate attention for its profanity and tone.
Trump: ‘We Sent Guns to the Protesters’“We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of them,” Trump told Yingst. “We sent them through the Kurds. And I think the Kurds kept them.”
The weapons delivery through Kurdish channels fits into a wider U.S. effort to weaken the Iranian regime from within. Kurdish forces hold territory along the Iranian border and have served as a logistics channel for various operations in the region.
During the Fox interview, Trump also said there is a “good chance” of a diplomatic deal with Iran by Monday, April 6. He added that if no agreement is reached quickly, the U.S. may “blow everything up and take over the oil.” He mentioned limited amnesty for Iranian negotiators.
Reports from inside Iran cite regime instability, including the deaths of senior leadership figures and the emergence of a new regime president reportedly seeking a ceasefire.
Trump has previously stated that strikes will continue or escalate until the strait is “open, free, and clear.”
