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Trump sets 48-hour deadline for Iran to open Strait of Hormuz
Donald Trump has set a 48-hour deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, threatening strikes on Iranian power plants if the country does not comply.
The US president said in a post on Truth Social that if Iran does not open the crucial waterway “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!”
The closure of the straits has blocked shipments of oil and other cargoes and caused a surge in global energy prices.
Saudi Arabia expels five Iranian diplomats
Saudi Arabia has expelled five Iranian diplomats citing the Islamic republic’s continued attacks on the kingdom, including civilian sites, economic interests and diplomatic missions.
The foreign ministry said it had informed Iran’s military attaché, his assistant and three other members of the embassy staff that they had been declared persona non grata and must leave the kingdom within 24 hours.
The ministry said Iran’s missile and drone attacks violated Saudi Arabia’s sovereignty and a 2023 agreement brokered by China between the kingdom and Iran that re-established diplomatic ties after a seven year hiatus.