Prosper Okoye
U.S. President Donald Trump said Saturday that Iran has 48 hours to reach an agreement on opening the Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences, escalating tensions in an already widening conflict in the Middle East.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump referenced an earlier ultimatum issued on March 26, warning that “time is running out” and that “all hell will reign down” if Iran fails to comply.
The president also claimed that a major strike on Iran’s capital, Tehran, had killed “many” of the country’s military leaders, though he did not provide specific details or timing. A video accompanying the post showed explosions lighting up a city skyline at night.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelThe conflict, which began more than a month ago with joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, has since triggered retaliatory attacks, spreading across the region and rattling global markets.
Iranian authorities said at least five people were killed in strikes on a petrochemical facility in Mahshahr Petrochemical Special Economic Zone in the country’s southwest. State-linked ISNA news agency, citing a provincial official, said the attack targeted multiple companies in the area.
READ ALSO:
Iran Defends War Actions in Open Letter to Americans as Trump Says Conflict Nearing End
Iran, Trump Trade Threats Over Power Plants as Gulf Energy Crisis Deepens
US Strikes 90 Iranian Military Targets, Trump Urges Allies to Protect Strait of Hormuz
The official, also quoted by IRNA, said about 170 people were wounded but did not require hospitalisation.
Prosper Okoye is a Correspondent and Research Writer at Prime Business Africa, a Nigerian journalist with experience in development reporting, public affairs, and policy-focused storytelling across Africa
