President Donald Trump issued a stark ultimatum late Saturday, warning that the United States would attack and "obliterate" Iranian power plants, starting with the largest, if Iran did not fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz to shipping within 48 hours. Trump posted the threat on his Truth Social platform from his Florida home, hours after Iranian missiles struck two communities in southern Israel near the country's main nuclear research center at Dimona, injuring at least 20 people according to Magen David Adom Israel.

Iran responded swiftly, with its army warning it would target all U.S. energy infrastructure in the region if its own fuel and energy facilities were struck. Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz separately announced that joint U.S.-Israeli military operations would intensify in the coming week and that Israel would continue targeting senior figures within the Iranian regime. A hospital and tourist site in southwestern Iran were also reported damaged from U.S. or Israeli strikes, with at least one child killed, according to Iranian state media.

The escalation came just 24 hours after Trump had signaled a possible drawdown, writing Friday that the U.S. was "getting very close to meeting our objectives as we consider winding down our great Military efforts in the Middle East." Within the same day, his administration confirmed it was sending additional troops to the region and, in a separate move, lifted sanctions on some Iranian oil exports for the first time in decades. The contradictory signals have deepened uncertainty about Washington's long-term strategy in a conflict it launched alongside Israel on February 28.

The Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply passes in peacetime, has seen shipping traffic nearly halt since the war's early days. Iran has stated the waterway remains open to all nations except the U.S. and its allies. The head of U.S. Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, said Saturday that American forces had significantly degraded Iran's ability to threaten vessels in the strait, citing strikes earlier in the week on underground facilities housing anti-ship cruise missiles, mobile launchers, and radar systems.

The conflict's economic consequences are widening, with oil prices surging and global stock markets declining. Analysts note that while much of the oil traversing the strait is bound for Asia rather than North America, the global nature of oil markets means supply disruptions affect prices worldwide. With Trump's 48-hour deadline now in effect and both sides signaling continued military action, the path toward a negotiated end to the conflict remains unclear.