United States (US) President Donald Trump has threatened to target Iran’s power plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours.

The warning comes after Iran blocked the key shipping route, through which a significant share of the world’s oil and gas supplies pass. The disruption has already pushed global fuel prices higher.

The strait is one of the most important energy transit routes in the world, and any prolonged closure is expected to have serious economic consequences internationally.

Iran has responded by warning that any attack on its energy infrastructure would be met with retaliation, targeting US energy facilities across the region, according to state media.

The latest developments come just a day after Trump suggested the US was close to achieving its objectives in the Middle East and could soon scale down military operations.

–ChannelAfrica–