ERBIL, Kurdistan Region of Iraq – US President Donald Trump on Saturday warned Iran that if it does not reopen the vital Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the US will “hit and obliterate” its power plants, as Iran’s blockade on the crucial trade route continues to impact global markets. 

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!” Trump said on his Truth Social platform.

Iran has shut the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway responsible for roughly 20 percent of the world’s oil, as a measure in its war against Israel and the US, sharply raising global oil prices.

In a joint statement on Saturday, leaders from 22 states across the Gulf, Europe, and North America condemned Iran's attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

"We call on Iran to cease immediately its threats, laying of mines, drone and missiles attacks and other attempts to block the Strait to commercial shipping," the statement read.

On Thursday, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Japan said they were ready to “contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz,” condemning Iran’s attacks on commercial vessels.

They also called on Iran to “immediately” cease laying mines in the sea, and drone and missile attacks.

The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has had severe impacts on global trade and supply chains. 

There are fears that the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen may help Iran close the Bab al-Mandab Strait as well, which would block all shipments from the Middle East to Europe from the Mediterranean, forcing them to reroute all the way around Africa.