WASHINGTON, United States (AFP): US President Donald Trump on Saturday said Iran had 48 hours left to make a deal on opening the vital Strait of Hormuz or face "hell".
"Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
"Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign (sic) down on them," the president said on Saturday (April 4).
Trump had initially threatened on March 21 to "obliterate" Iran's power plants, beginning with the country's biggest, "if Iran doesn't FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS."
Two days later, however, he said "very good and productive conversations" were being held with Iranian authorities, and that he had postponed any strikes on power plants for five days.
He later again pushed the deadline back, to expire at 8pm Monday (0000 GMT Tuesday).
Experts have said that attacks on civilian energy infrastructure could constitute a war crime. –AFP
