Washington, Mar 22: Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face US strikes on its power infrastructure.

In a social media post, Trump said the United States would “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants, starting with the largest facility, if the waterway is not “fully open, without threat” within the specified timeframe.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS … the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS,” Trump said.

Conflict Enters Fourth Week
The warning comes as the conflict enters its fourth week, with hostilities expanding beyond their initial scope.

According to Israeli officials, Iranian forces have fired long-range missiles for the first time since the start of the war. An Iranian strike also reportedly injured dozens of people near a sensitive nuclear site in Israel.

Eyal Zamir said Iran launched two ballistic missiles with a range of about 4,000 km at the US-UK military base at Diego Garcia.

“These missiles are not intended to strike Israel. Their range reaches European capitals — Berlin, Paris and Rome are all within direct threat range,” Zamir said.

Iranian media also reported that US and Israeli forces attacked the Shahid Ahmadi-Roshan Natanz enrichment complex on Saturday morning.

Rising Casualties and Global Impact
The conflict has already resulted in significant casualties. More than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran since US and Israeli strikes began on Feb. 28, while at least 15 people have died in Israel due to Iranian attacks.

The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping route, carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil supply.

Iran has restricted passage through the strait in recent weeks, disrupting energy flows and driving up oil prices. More than 20 countries have called for the restoration of safe maritime transit.

Also Read: Trump Presses Allies on Hormuz, Rejects Ceasefire with Iran Amid Escalating Conflict

Europe and Japan Signal Support
Amid concerns over global energy supplies, several countries signalled readiness to support efforts to ensure safe passage through the strait.

In a joint statement, Britain, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Japan said they were prepared to contribute to maintaining maritime security and stabilising energy markets.

Trump Renews Criticism of NATO
Trump also reiterated criticism of NATO, calling it a “paper tiger” without US support and accusing allies of failing to act during the conflict.

“Without the U.S.A., NATO is a paper tiger,” he said, adding that member nations did not join efforts against what he described as a “nuclear-powered Iran.”

Signals on Military Strategy
Earlier this week, Trump said the United States was “very close” to achieving its objectives in the conflict and indicated a possible winding down of major military operations.

In a post on Truth Social, he cited what he described as progress against Iran while urging other countries to contribute to securing the Strait of Hormuz.

At the same time, the US administration announced a move to ease sanctions on Iranian oil shipments, aimed at addressing rising fuel costs.

Despite these signals, the conflict continues with no immediate signs of de-escalation.