On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, former U.S. President Donald Trump issued 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, the U.S. military will strike Iranian power plants and bridges. The message was immediately picked up by major news outlets, sending shockwaves through global markets.
The Easter Warning
Trump's post read in full: "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day in Iran, and it will all come together. Nothing like it ever seen!!! Open up the fucking Straits, you crazy bastards, or you will live in hell – just watch! Praise Allah, President Donald J. Trump." He set the deadline as April 7, 2026, stating that if Iran does not allow shipping through the Strait of Hormuz by then, the U.S. will hit the country's energy and infrastructure assets.
The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20% of the world's oil supply. Iran has been blocking or severely disrupting vessel traffic through the waterway in retaliation for U.S. and Israeli airstrikes that began as part of "Operation Epic Fury" in late February 2026. Trump has delivered multiple ultimatums during this conflict, but this Easter Sunday post – ending with "Praise Allah" – drew immediate attention due to its vulgar tone and timing on a major Christian holiday.
Trump Confirms Arming Iranian Protesters
Separately, Trump gave a roughly 15-minute interview to Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst around the same time, in which he confirmed that the U.S. secretly sent weapons to anti-government protesters in early 2026. "We sent guns to the protesters. A lot of them," Trump told Yingst. "We sent them through the Kurds. And I think the Kurds kept the guns." Trump also claimed that Iranian security forces killed approximately 45,000 protesters during the crackdown on demonstrations earlier this year. The supply of weapons via Kurdish channels is part of a broader U.S. effort to weaken the Iranian regime from within.
Market Impact: Oil Above $110, Fed Rate Cut Hopes Dashed
Oil prices have surged above $110 per barrel as geopolitical risks escalate. With the U.S.-Iran war reshaping the FOMC outlook ahead of the April 29 rate decision, the possibility of a Fed rate cut in 2026 has completely evaporated. The spike in energy prices could further fuel global inflation, dampening risk appetite. Cryptocurrency markets, which have shown increasing correlation with traditional risk assets, face downward pressure from both geopolitical turmoil and monetary policy uncertainty. Bitcoin and other digital assets are now navigating a macro environment dominated by conflict and shifting central bank expectations.
U.S. and Israeli forces have already struck Iranian naval assets, air bases, missile sites, and military leadership targets during Operation Epic Fury. Iran has retaliated by blocking the Strait of Hormuz and launching missile and drone attacks. 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 secure." Global investors are closely monitoring the conflict, and crypto markets may continue to suffer from risk-off sentiment in the short term.