// truthsocial.com/@realDonaldTrump
In his message on the social network Truth Social, published at 0:44 Central European Time on March 22, Trump stated: “If Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the USA will strike and destroy various power plants in that country, starting with the largest!”
The Iranian army promptly responded to the threat from the US president. In a statement from the command of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), published by the Iranian state news agency Fars, it was said: “If Iran's oil and energy infrastructure is attacked, all energy, IT, and desalination facilities of the USA and its allies in the region will become targets.” This statement was made on the night of March 22.
An hour before the ultimatum, Trump commented on an article by David Sanger from The New York Times, which claimed that the American president had not achieved many of his military goals in Iran. In response, Trump wrote: “No, I have achieved, and a few weeks earlier than planned! Their leadership is destroyed, their navy and air force are defeated, they have absolutely no defense, and they want to make a deal. And I do not!” He also called the analyst “insignificant” and the newspaper “a failure.”
Since the beginning of the conflict between the USA, Israel, and Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, through which about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass, is effectively controlled by the Iranian army. Iran is also striking oil facilities in neighboring Persian Gulf countries, which has already led to a significant increase in energy prices. In this context, Trump criticized his NATO allies, calling them “cowards” and urging them to take a more active role in protecting the strait.
According to estimates from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, if the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz continues until the end of June, it will lead to a reduction in global economic growth in the second quarter by 2.9 percentage points on an annual basis. It is predicted that if the strait remains closed for three quarters of this year, the price of a barrel of oil could reach $132 by the end of the year.
Since February 28, the USA and Israel have begun airstrikes on Iran, resulting in the deaths of the country's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and several high-ranking officials. In response, Iran is attacking neighboring states in the Persian Gulf using missiles and drones, targeting American military bases. Oil storage facilities in several countries in the region and oil tankers are also under fire.
