On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a profanity-laced ultimatum on his Truth Social platform, warning Iran that if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday (April 7), American forces will bomb its power plants and bridges. The post was immediately picked up by major news outlets, triggering volatility in global energy markets and cryptocurrencies.
Full Text of the Ultimatum
Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be Iran’s Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, and it will all be combined into one — nothing like it ever!!! Open the damn strait, you crazy bastards, or you will live in hell — just watch! Praise Allah. Donald J. Trump, President.” He set a deadline of April 7, 2026, and warned that if Iran does not comply, the U.S. military will strike its energy and infrastructure targets.
The Strait of Hormuz carries about 20% of the world’s oil supply. Since the launch of Operation Epic Fury by the U.S. and Israel in late February 2026, Iran has retaliated by blocking or severely disrupting shipping through the strait. Trump has issued multiple ultimatums during the conflict, some of which passed without full Iranian compliance. The Easter timing and the closing phrase “Praise Allah” drew immediate scrutiny.
Confirms Arming Protesters via Kurdish Channels
In a separate 15-minute interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst around the same time, Trump confirmed that the U.S. secretly sent weapons to anti-government protesters in early 2026 via Kurdish channels. “We sent the protesters guns. A lot of them,” Trump told Yingst. “We sent them through the Kurds. And I think the Kurds kept the guns.” He also claimed that Iranian security forces killed about 45,000 protesters during the crackdown earlier this year, part of widespread internal pressure on the Tehran regime amid the ongoing conflict.
The arms supply via Kurdish routes is part of broader U.S. efforts to weaken the Iranian regime from within. Kurdish forces control areas along Iran’s borders and have served as conduits for supplies for various operations in the region.
Oil Surges and Fed Rate Cut Hopes Vanish
With oil prices surpassing $110 per barrel, markets have completely priced out any chance of a 2026 Fed rate cut ahead of the April 29 FOMC decision. The U.S.-Iran war has upended the Federal Reserve’s outlook. Cryptocurrency markets also faced selling pressure as investors fled risk assets, seeking safe havens.
U.S. and Israeli forces have already struck Iranian naval assets, airbases, missile sites, and military leadership targets during Operation Epic Fury. Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks beyond the Hormuz blockade. Internal Iranian reports indicate regime instability, including the death of senior leaders and the emergence of a new president reportedly seeking a ceasefire. Trump has previously stated that airstrikes will continue or expand until the Strait is “open, free, and safe.”