Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reopen Strait of Hormuz

By Dan McCaleb
The Center Square

President Trump on Saturday gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz to oil cargo or “all hell will reign down.”

“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” Trump wrote on social media. “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”

Iran has mostly blocked the strait for five weeks, since the U.S. and Israel began its bombing operation. The standoff is blocking about 20% of the world’s oil supply, keeping it in the Persian Gulf and driving up oil and gas prices across the world.

Trump’s Saturday threat comes as search and rescue operations remain ongoing after two U.S. fighter jets crashed in the region. In the first, an F-15E fighter jet with two crew members was shot down. The pilot was recovered but the craft’s weapons systems officer remains missing. In the second, an A-10 Warthog aircraft crashed and the pilot was recovered.