Trump Threatens to Bomb Iran's Bridges and Power Plants Over Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump opened Easter Sunday with a profanity-laced ultimatum to Iran, declaring on Truth Social that Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran" unless Tehran reopened the Strait of Hormuz by Monday.

The post, published at 8:03 a.m., demanded Iran open the strait or face the consequences. "Open the F in' Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in Hell JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah," Trump wrote, signing the message "President DONALD J. TRUMP."

Trump's 10-day deadline to Iran was expected to expire Monday. He had previously threatened to bomb the country's energy, water, and oil infrastructure if no deal was reached to open the strait. He extended that deadline on March 26, writing that he was "pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction by 10 Days to Monday, April 6, 2026, at 8 P.M., Eastern Time." On Saturday, Trump posted a reminder to Iran about the 10-day deadline, warning that "Time is running out 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them."

The Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of global oil and natural gas supplies pass, has been closed by Iran, leading to a worldwide energy crisis. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz drove global oil prices past $100 per barrel.

Over the previous ten days, the U.S. and Iran held indirect negotiations through Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey to try to reach a ceasefire deal in exchange for opening the strait. No significant progress was achieved. Iran has accused Trump of planning to commit war crimes and threatened to retaliate with similar attacks against infrastructure in Israel and in other Gulf states. Legal experts have said that attacks on power plants could constitute a war crime and violate international law.

Iran had described a 15-point U.S. proposal as "extremely maximalist and unreasonable." Trump said Wednesday that Iran's "New Regime President" had asked Washington for a ceasefire, a claim Tehran denied.

The Sunday post arrived against a backdrop of intensifying military losses. Iran claimed the downing of two U.S. C-130 planes and two Black Hawk helicopters, with state television broadcasting footage of wreckage. The recently constructed B1 Bridge near Tehran was destroyed in an airstrike attributed to the United States and Israel on April 3. Eight people died in the attack, according to Iranian state media. A missing F-15E weapons officer was rescued by U.S. special forces after evading Iranian forces for two days.

Trump told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst that he believed he would be able to make a deal with Iran by Monday. Democratic Senator Chris Murphy offered a starkly different view. "He's already killed thousands... he's going to kill thousands more," Murphy said, urging consideration of the 25th Amendment.

Whether Trump's Monday deadline would again be extended or finally enforced remained the defining question heading into the week.