As the war in Iran enters its second month, President Trump has escalated his threats over the Strait of Hormuz, a critical Persian waterway through which about one fifth of global oil and liquefied gas passes. Iran holds a virtual chokehold over the strait; as a consequence, the price of gas in the U.S. has risen 38% since the beginning of the war, the highest it is has been since 2022. Many Asian countries also rely on oil that passes through the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 21, Trump ordered Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours and threatened to bomb critical Iranian infrastructure such as power plants and bridges if the deadline was not met. Later, he postponed the deadline to April 6 at 8 p.m.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” he posted on his Truth Social account. “Open the F****n’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!”
Tens of millions of Iranians rely on power plants to power critical establishments such as hospitals and schools. Attacking non-military civilian infrastructure is a violation of international humanitarian law and usually considered a war crime.
In sharp contrast to previous wartime presidents, who have claimed to follow international law even though it has been broken several times, Trump openly embraces war crimes. “I don’t need international law,” he told the New York Times, adding that the only thing restricting his global power is his own mortality.
Trump seems to be emboldened by the recent rescue of an Air Force officer whose plane, a F-15E Strike Eagle, was shot down deep in Iranian territory. The officer hid from Iranian forces in a cave for 24 hours while the CIA launched a deception campaign to convince Iran that a rescue mission had already been successfully completed. Meanwhile, a massive and risky Navy SEAL operation that involved hundreds of forces rescued the man and returned him home, injured but safe.
As for the timeline of the war, the end is not yet in sight. Trump stated on April 1 that Iran had asked for a cease-fire, but Iran denied that claim. A senior Iranian official has stated that the Strait of Hormuz will not open until Iran is “fully compensated” for damages, making it unlikely that peace is just around the corner.
