Trump threatens to strike Iran power plants in 48 hours over Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Saturday, warning that the United States would strike its power plants if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened.

“IF Iran DOES NOT FULLY OPEN THE Strait of Hormuz WITHOUT THREAT within 48 HOURS from this point, the United States of America will strike and destroy various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE LARGEST FIRST!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The president’s threat represents a notable escalation in rhetoric as tensions rise on the strategically vital waterway.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a global chokepoint for oil and gas transportation that supplies roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, has been largely limited since early March, shortly after the start of war with Iran.

AS TRAFFIC HAS DECREASED BUT NO MISSIONS HAVE BEEN STARTED, THE USA IS SIGNALING THAT IT IS READY TO ACCOMPANY THE TANKERS THROUGH HORUZ

Trump’s post came after he told reporters on Friday that reopening the strait was a “simple military maneuver.”

“It’s relatively safe, but you need a lot of help because you need the ships, you need the volume,” he said.

The president added that NATO did not have the “courage” to help the United States reopen the waterway.

TRUMP SAID THAT HE ‘DESTROYED’ THE TARGETS IN THE STRIKE ON IRAN’S IMPORTANT OIL CENTER

The tanker Callisto remains anchored in Muscat, Oman, as traffic eases in the Strait of Hormuz, amid the US-Israeli conflict with Iran. (Benoit Tessier / Reuters)

“NATO can help us, but so far they haven’t had the courage to do it, and others can help us,” Trump said. “But, you know, we’re not using it. You know, it’s going to turn itself back on at some point.”

Earlier Friday, Trump called NATO “cowards” on Truth Social and said NATO “complains about the high oil prices they have to pay, but they don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz.”

A growing group of countries have signed a joint declaration signaling their “readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage” through the strait.

In the joint statement, it was said, “We express our readiness to contribute to the efforts necessary to ensure safe passage through the Bosphorus” and “We welcome the determination of the nations engaged in preparation planning.”

The statement was attributed to the leaders of more than 20 countries, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Canada and the United Arab Emirates.

“We condemn in the strongest terms Iran’s recent attacks on unarmed commercial ships in the Gulf, its attacks on civilian infrastructure, including oil and natural gas facilities, and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz by Iranian forces,” the statement said.

NATO HEAVYWEIGHTS OBSTACLE THE HORUZ MISSION WHILE TRUMP WARNED THE ALLIANCE WAS AT RISK

A satellite image shows the Strait of Hormuz, a key maritime passage connecting the Persian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman and vital for global energy supplies. (Amanda Macias/Fox News Digital)

In the statement, “We express our deep concerns about the escalating conflict. We call on Iran to immediately stop its threats, mine-laying, unmanned aerial vehicle and missile attacks and other attempts to close the Bosphorus to commercial shipping, and to comply with UN Security Council resolution 2817.”

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Earlier this week, US forces hit Iran’s anti-ship missile sites near the Strait of Hormuz with 5,000-pound bunker buster bombs, according to US Central Command (CENTCOM).

Fox News Digital’s Greg Norman-Diamond contributed to this report.