Iran unswayed by Trump's 48-hour deadline and threats to 'obliterate' energy infrastructure

Tehran has threatened to escalate strikes on energy infrastructure and target critical water desalination facilities should President Donald Trump make good on a promise to “obliterate” the country’s power plants if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz

Tehran has threatened to escalate strikes on energy infrastructure and target critical water desalination facilities should President Donald Trump make good on a promise to “obliterate” the country’s power plants if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump on Saturday evening gave Tehran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the critical trade route, through which around 20% of the world’s oil passes, threatening in a post on Truth Social to target Iran’s energy infrastructure if the demand is not met.

Iran has effectively blocked the strait since the U.S. and Israel launched their attacks on the country on Feb. 28, sparking swift retaliation from the Islamic Republic and triggering a wider war in the region.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on Sunday that the Trump administration was leaving “all options on the table” when it comes to seeing the strait reopened.

Asked by moderator Kristen Welker whether the U.S. was scaling back the war against Iran or escalating, he said those two things were “not mutually exclusive.”