US President Donald Trump has said in an expletive-laden social media post that America will target Iran’s power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
Trump said his deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on critical infrastructure is Tuesday evening, according to an interview he gave to the Wall Street Journal on Sunday.
“If they don’t do something by Tuesday evening, they won’t have any power plants and they won’t have any bridges standing,” Trump told the Journal.
Trump later posted on social media, without mentioning Iran or any other details: “Tuesday, 8:00 PM Eastern Time!”
In another post laden with expletives, Trump upped the ante on his demands.
The Strait of Hormuz, a conduit for around a fifth of the world’s oil and natural gas supply, has been largely shut down since the war began five weeks ago.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran,” he said on his Truth Social platform.
“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”
Adding to the pressure, Washington’s ally in the war, Israel, which attacked a major petrochemicals facility on Saturday, was preparing to attack energy facilities next week and was awaiting US approval, a senior Israeli defence official said.
However, in the sort of mixed messaging that has baffled supporters and foes alike, let alone financial markets, Trump told Fox News on Sunday that Iran was negotiating, with a deal possible by Monday.
Tehran is demanding an end to hostilities and its parliamentary speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf condemned Trump’s threats, saying he was being misled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” he posted on X.
Trump’s threat follows an intense 48-hour rescue operation for two US airmen inside Iran.
Thirteen US military personnel have died and hundreds of others have been wounded throughout the Middle East since the US and Israel started operations.
Trump said he will hold a news conference on Monday in the Oval Office alongside the military.
The average US petrol price hit $US4.11 ($A5.95) a gallon on Sunday, according to AAA, up from below $US3 ($A4.3) when strikes on Iran began.
The war, which opened with US and Israeli air strikes across Iran on February 28, has spread into Lebanon, where Israel has resumed its campaign against the Iranian-backed Hezbollah.
Thousands have died, mainly in Iran and Lebanon, where Israeli airvstrikes killed another 11 people on Sunday, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.
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