Former President Donald Trump threatened to destroy power plants in Iran if the country does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz [1].
These threats signal a potential escalation in tensions over one of the world's most critical oil transit chokepoints. The Strait of Hormuz is vital for global energy security, and any military action targeting Iranian infrastructure could disrupt international trade and stabilize regional volatility.
On Saturday, March 22, 2026, Trump issued a deadline for Iran to reopen the waterway and return to diplomatic negotiations [1]. According to CNN Arabic, the former president set a 48-hour deadline [1] for these actions. He said, "We will hit and destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours" [1].
Reports regarding the scope and timing of the threatened strikes vary. While CNN Arabic focused on power plants, Al Jazeera Arabic reported that Trump threatened to destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran [2]. Al Jazeera also noted a different timeframe, stating the destruction would occur "next week" [2].
Trump linked the potential military action directly to the diplomatic status of the region. He said, "We will destroy all bridges and power plants in Iran next week unless officials return to the negotiating table" [2].
Addressing the potential legal or ethical fallout of such an attack, Trump dismissed concerns regarding international law. On April 6, 2026, he said, "I am not worried about war crimes if we hit the power plants" [1].
The former president's strategy relies on the threat of total infrastructure collapse to force a return to the bargaining table. By targeting power plants and bridges, the U.S. would aim to cripple the internal logistics, and energy grid of the Iranian state [1], [2].
“"We will hit and destroy Iranian power plants if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours."”
The focus on power plants and bridges suggests a strategy of 'maximum pressure' targeting dual-use infrastructure to coerce diplomatic concessions. By explicitly dismissing war crime concerns, Trump is signaling a willingness to bypass traditional international legal constraints to secure the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, which is essential for global oil markets.
