US President Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, otherwise the US will destroy Iranian power plants.
In peacetime, about 20% of the world's oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) shipments pass through the strait, making it critical to global energy supplies. Trump posted on his Truth Social platform that Iran has until 23:44 GMT on March 23 (03:14 in Tehran on March 24) to comply with the US president's demand.
"If Iran does not fully, without threat, open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from this exact point in time, the United States of America will strike and destroy their various power plants, starting with the largest first," Trump wrote.
Tehran says it will target US-linked energy sites across the Gulf region if attacked, according to Iranian state media.
Iran's blockade and attacks on ships in the Strait have caused oil prices to rise sharply in recent weeks.
