Trump issues Hormuz ultimatum, threatens to ‘obliterate’ Iran’s power plants

US President Donald Trump on Saturday threatened to “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, a dramatic escalation that came barely a day after he talked about “winding down” the war.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, ‌the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump said on social media.

The threat landed as the conflict entered dangerous new territory.

Israeli officials said that Iranian forces had for the first time fired long-range missiles, expanding the risk of attacks beyond the Middle East, even as an Iranian strike injured dozens of people not far from Israel’s nuclear ⁠site.

Iran launched two 4,000km (2,485 miles) range ballistic missiles at the US-UK military base Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean, Israeli military chief Eyal Zamir ‌said. The Israeli military said it was the “first time” Iran had used long-range missiles since the United States and Israel began attacking Iran on February 28.

“These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range ‌reaches European capitals – Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range,” Zamir said in a statement.