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U.S. Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum to Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Amid Missing Airman Search
President Donald Trump has given Iran 48 hours to open the Strait of Hormuz or face severe consequences, marking his third such ultimatum. The U.S. military continues searching for a missing airman after two U.S. planes were shot down by Iran on Friday.
Apr 4, 6:50 PM·2m read12 sources
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President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran on Friday, demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz or face 'all hell' raining down. The deadline expires at 10:05 a.m. ET on Monday, April 6. This marks the third such unilateral ultimatum from Trump to the Iranian government, which has refused to negotiate or reopen the strait.
The ultimatum comes at the start of the sixth week of war between the U.S. and Iran. Trump referenced a previous 10-day deadline, stating, 'Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them. ' Iran responded through its military, warning that 'the entire region will become a hell for you if escalation continues' and that the region will 'turn into hell' for the United States and Israel if the war escalates.
The U.S. military is conducting a search for a missing American airman following the downing of two U.S. planes by Iranian forces on Friday. The airman was aboard an F-15E fighter jet. The search has been ongoing for days, with U.S. forces racing to locate the individual.
Israel is preparing to strike Iranian energy facilities but is awaiting a 'green light' from the United States, according to a Reuters report. The preparations follow hours after Trump's ultimatum. No further details on the potential strikes or U.S. response were provided in the sources.
The timing of the ultimatum coincides with the U.S. stock market reopening after a three-day weekend, 35 minutes after the deadline expires. This has raised concerns about market volatility. The Strait of Hormuz remains closed, impacting global oil shipments through the key waterway.
Trump also posted a separate statement on social media: 'If you import The Third World, you become The Third World!' This comment was unrelated to the Iran situation based on available context. No additional details or responses to this post were reported.
The ongoing conflict has escalated tensions in the Middle East, with the U.S. and Iran exchanging threats. The search for the missing airman underscores the human cost of the hostilities. International observers are monitoring the 48-hour period for potential further developments.
