On Easter Sunday, April 5, 2026, U.S. President Donald Trump posted a profanity-laced ultimatum on Truth Social, warning Iran that it must reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday (April 7) or face American airstrikes on Iranian power plants and bridges. The threat immediately sent shockwaves through global energy markets and escalated tensions in an already volatile region.
Trump's Ultimatum: Power Plants and Bridges on the Line
In his post, Trump wrote: “Tuesday will be power plant day and bridge day in Iran, and it will all be combined into one – nothing like it ever before!!! Open up the damn strait, you lunatics, or you will live in hell – just watch! Praise Allah. President Donald J. Trump.” The message set April 7 as a deadline and made clear that U.S. forces would strike Iran's energy and infrastructure if the Strait of Hormuz remained blocked.
The Strait of Hormuz carries approximately 20% of global oil supplies. Since the launch of the U.S.-Israeli military operation “Epic Fury” in late February 2026, Iran has blocked or severely disrupted shipping through the vital waterway in retaliation for airstrikes on its territory. Trump has issued multiple ultimatums previously, some of which passed without full compliance from Iran. The timing on Easter Sunday, combined with the use of expletives and the closing phrase “Praise Allah,” drew immediate international attention and criticism.
Admission of Arming Protesters via Kurdish Channels
Around the same time, Trump sat for a roughly 15-minute interview with Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst. In that interview, he confirmed for the first time that the United States had secretly sent weapons to anti-government protesters in Iran earlier in 2026. “We sent guns to the protesters, a lot of guns,” Trump told Yingst. “We sent them through the Kurds. And I think the Kurds kept the guns.” He also claimed that Iranian security forces had killed approximately 45,000 protesters during the crackdown earlier this year, which was part of widespread internal pressure on the Tehran regime amid the ongoing conflict.
The supply of arms through Kurdish routes is part of a broader U.S. effort to weaken the Iranian regime from within. Kurdish forces control areas along Iran's borders and have served as a conduit for materials for various operations in the region. The admission underscores that Washington is actively supporting internal opposition forces beyond diplomatic and military spheres.
Market and Geopolitical Implications
In the Fox News interview, Trump also said there was a “good chance” of reaching a diplomatic agreement with Iran by Monday, April 6. He added that if no deal is reached quickly, the U.S. may “blow everything up and take the oil.” He also alluded to limited pardon measures for Iranian negotiators.
Geopolitical tensions have pushed crude oil prices above $110 per barrel. The U.S.-Iran conflict has upended Federal Reserve policy expectations, with markets now fully pricing in no rate cuts for 2026. The Fed is expected to hold rates steady at its April 29 meeting. Previously, U.S. and Israeli forces have struck Iranian naval assets, airbases, missile sites, and military command targets during Operation Epic Fury. Iran has retaliated with missiles and drones in addition to the Strait blockade. Internal reports from Iran suggest leadership deaths and the emergence of a new president reportedly seeking a ceasefire, indicating deepening regime instability.
Trump has previously stated that airstrikes will continue or expand until the Strait is “open, free, and safe.” The situation injects high uncertainty into global energy markets, crypto safe-haven demand, and the U.S. dollar outlook.