Trump threatens Iran with "hell" if Hormuz strait isn't open in 48 hours
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Photo: Alex Brandon-Pool/Getty Images
President Trump threatened on Saturday that "hell will reign down" on Iran if the regime doesn't agree to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.
Why it matters: Trump's 10-day deadline to Iran is expected to expire on Monday. He previously threatened to bomb the country's energy, water and oil infrastructure if no deal was reached to open the strait.
- Tehran has accused Trump of planning to commit war crimes.
- Over the last ten days the U.S. and Iran have held indirect negotiations through Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey to try and reach a deal of a ceasefire in return for opening the strait of Hormuz. No significant progress has been achieved so far.
What they're saying: "Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
- Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) wrote on X that he spoke to Trump on Saturday about his ultimatum to Iran.
- "After speaking with President Trump, I am completely convinced that he will use overwhelming military force against the regime if they continue to impede the Strait of Hormuz and refuse a diplomatic solution to achieve our military objectives," Graham said.
- "If it's not clear to Iran and others by now that President Trump means what he says then I don't know when it will ever be."
Behind the scenes: The indirect negotiations have been led by Vice President Vance and Iran's speaker of Parliament Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, with the mediation of Pakistani military chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir.
- White House envoy Steve Witkoff and the foreign ministers of Iran, Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt are also involved in the indirect negotiations.
State of play: According to two sources involved in those talks, the mediators are still trying to get the parties to meet directly. But so far with little success.
- One of the sources said Iran has thus far rejected any proposal for a temporary ceasefire and demanded a permanent end to the war with clear guarantees that the U.S. won't attack again.
- The mediators are now working on possible confidence-building measures as a path to direct talks, but it's unclear if anything can be achieved by Monday's deadline.
