Trump's 48-Hour Ultimatum on Hormuz Nears Deadline; Iran Vows Complete Strait Closure If Power Plants Struck

Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum Saturday night threatening to 'hit and obliterate' Iran's power plants starting with the largest if Tehran does not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The deadline falls approximately March 24. Iran's Parliament Speaker Qalibaf warned all regional energy infrastructure would become 'legitimate targets' in retaliation. NBC reports Iran remains 'unswayed' by the deadline. The threat marks a reversal from Trump's earlier floating of winding down operations without resolving the Hormuz crisis, signaling the strait has become the irreducible objective.