Donald Trump has issued Iran a 48-hour deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure.

In a post on Truth Social on Saturday evening, the US president threatened to “obliterate” the country’s power plants, in a dramatic escalation that came barely a day after he talked about “winding down” the war.

“If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, 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!” Mr Trump wrote.

The US president’s ultimatum would expand the scope of US strikes to infrastructure that affects daily civilian life in Iran.

Mr Trump’s threat landed as the war entered dangerous new territory on Saturday, with Israeli officials claiming that Iranian forces had for the first time fired long-range missiles, expanding the risk of attacks beyond the Middle ‌East.

Iran launched two 2,400-mile-range ballistic missiles at the British-US military base Diego Garcia on the Chagos Islands. Israel also warned Sir Keir Starmer that Tehran had developed missiles capable of striking London.

Iran fired back shortly after the US president’s threat, warning that if its power plants were attacked, all US energy infrastructure in the region would be targeted.

“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted,” the Iranian military’s operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement.

Iran’s largest power plants include the Damavand power plant near Tehran, the Kerman plant in the southeast, the Ramin steam power plant in Khuzestan province, and the country’s sole nuclear plant at Bushehr, according to industry and energy databases.

Iran fires back at Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum

Iran has said if its fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked, all US energy infrastructure in the region will be targeted.

“Following previous warnings, if Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is violated by the enemy, all energy, information technology and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted,” the Iranian military’s operational command Khatam Al-Anbiya said in a statement.

The comments were made shortly after Mr Trump demanded Iran open the Strait of Hormuz within 48-hours or face the obliteration of its power plants.