“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” said U.S. President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post on Saturday morning, the day before Easter Sunday. “Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
A blockade of the Strait of Hormuz off the Iranian coast – a waterway where an estimated 20% of the world’s crude oil travels through – is part of what has caused oil prices to spike in the U.S. following Trump’s announcement in late February that the U.S. and Israel had attacked Iran. National average fuel prices hit $4 per gallon this week and have continued to creep even higher.
Experts warn that the longer the strait remains blocked, the higher prices could go, with food and plastic prices also expected to rise. One expert even said that crude oil hitting $150 per barrel could be a “nightmare” scenario, and it’s already tipped over $111 per barrel this week.
Polling continues to find that Trump has little support from the American public for the war in Iran, including Ipsos poll results released this week that found 66% of the country believed the U.S. should wind down its involvement in the conflict. Audacy covered reports this week that some members of Trump’s administration are concerned that his close advisors are painting a too-rosy picture of the war to the president, and his approval ratings have slipped as the fighting continues.
Trump seems to have signaled intentions to exit the war, but he also signals that he might ramp up attacks – and his Saturday Truth Social post is one example. Trump also took to Truth Social on Thursday to say that the U.S. military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran.” He said that the U.S. planned to target bridges, then electric power plants.
“New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!” he added.
In a Friday Truth Social post, he said that “with a little more time,” the U.S. would be able to open the strait “TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE.” In another Friday post, he asked: “KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?”
Trump seems to have signaled intentions to exit the war, but he also signals that he might ramp up attacks – and his Saturday Truth Social post is one example. Trump also took to Truth Social on Thursday to say that the U.S. military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran.” He said that the U.S. planned to target bridges, then electric power plants.
“New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST!” he added.
In a Friday Truth Social post, he said that “with a little more time,” the U.S. would be able to open the strait “TAKE THE OIL, & MAKE A FORTUNE.” In another Friday post, he asked: “KEEP THE OIL, ANYONE?”
On Friday, reports came in that two separate U.S. fighter jets were shot down in Iran, with one service member rescued. The Associated Press noted that this marks the first time that the U.S. jets were shot down by enemy fire in 20 years. Both Iran and the U.S. were racing to find the second aircraft Saturday.
Fighting also continued in the region, with Al Jazeera reporting that Israel said it hit Iran’s steel industry and petrochemical plants. So far, the U.S. servicemember death toll from that conflict stands at 13, according to NPR. Another 365 have been injured, and more than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran.
