President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran, warning that the country’s power plants would be “obliterated” if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. Iranian missiles bypassed Israeli defenses and struck Dimona and Arad, where officials declared a mass casualty event. Tensions escalated as attacks and counterattacks intensified across the region.
Israel responded with wide-scale strikes on more than 200 targets in Iran and Lebanon. Iran attempted to hit a U.S.-UK military base in the Indian Ocean, raising concerns about the long-range capabilities of its missiles. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia expelled five Iranian diplomats and intercepted missiles and drones aimed at Riyadh and other eastern regions, signaling the conflict’s wider impact.
Global powers are taking steps to protect critical shipping routes. Twenty-two nations, including the UAE and Australia, are discussing military escorts for oil tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, evoking comparisons to the Tanker War of the 1980s. Natural gas prices have nearly doubled since February 28, and global oil reached $110 per barrel after recent strikes on energy infrastructure.
The Trump ultimatum highlights the high stakes for global energy and security. About 20% of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas shipments pass through the strait, making it vital to international markets. U.S. officials are working to prevent a prolonged closure, but reopening the waterway remains a complex and urgent challenge. The ultimatum underscores both the regional threat and the global economic risks involved.