Trump issues 48-hour ultimatum to Iran to reopen Hormuz or ‘all Hell will reign down on them’

WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Saturday that Iran had 48 hours to “make a deal or open up the Hormuz Strait” before “all Hell will reign down on them,” in a post on social media platform Truth Social as the conflict between Washington and Tehran enters its sixth week

In the post, Trump said Iran had previously been given a ten-day window to negotiate or restore access to the strategic waterway — a vital artery for global oil shipments — and that time was now running out.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which about a fifth of the world’s oil flows, has been effectively shut down amid escalating hostilities, raising concerns among energy markets and governments worldwide.

Trump’s ultimatum comes as U.S. military operations and Iranian counter-strikes have intensified across the region. Iran has claimed to have downed multiple U.S. aircraft and drones, and Tehran’s forces are searching for the crew of an American F-15 fighter jet that went down over Iranian territory and the Gulf, heightening tensions further.

In Tehran, Iranian officials have continued to reject what they describe as misleading narratives about their willingness to engage in peace efforts. Foreign Minister **Abbas Araghchi** said on social media that Tehran had “never refused to go to Islamabad” for talks aimed at ending the war and accused U.S. media of misrepresenting Iran’s position.

Araghchi said Iran was “deeply grateful to Pakistan for its efforts” but insisted that the terms for any talks must lead to a “conclusive and lasting end” to what Tehran calls an “illegal war.”

Pakistan has been positioning itself as a potential host for negotiations between the United States and Iran, seeking to facilitate a diplomatic resolution even as battlefield dynamics shift. Islamabad has denied reports that its mediation efforts have collapsed, calling such speculation baseless. ([Deccan

Regional and global leaders have been watching closely as the crisis unfolds. Despite complications, there are ongoing calls for dialogue and diplomatic engagement, including from China and Pakistan, which have urged peace talks and normal navigation through key waterways.

The latest flare-up follows weeks of military exchanges, with Iran launching missile attacks on Israeli territory and U.S. bases in Gulf countries in response to earlier U.S. and Israeli strikes. The conflict has disrupted major oil facilities and rattled markets, adding urgency to diplomatic efforts. Trump’s warning marks another escalation in rhetoric from Washington, underscoring the high stakes in the fight for control of the Strait of Hormuz and the broader geopolitical contest in t