Trump extends Iran deadline to reopen Strait of Hormuz

April 06, 2026 / 12:03 AM

Sharjah 24 – AFP: US President Donald Trump appeared to extend by 24 hours his ultimatum for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply could lead to devastating attacks on the country’s infrastructure. On Sunday, he posted on Truth Social: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” signaling the new deadline, which corresponds to 0000 GMT Wednesday.

Strait of Hormuz blockade

The Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global oil and gas shipping route, has been effectively blocked by Iran since the start of the US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28.

Trump reiterates threats in media interviews

Trump, who has avoided public events since a Wednesday address, reiterated his warning in interviews with multiple media outlets, including The Wall Street Journal and Fox News, threatening destruction of Iran’s power plants and bridges if the deadline is not met.

He suggested a deal with Iran could be reached soon, saying there is a “good chance” of an agreement on Monday, and claimed Iranian negotiators had conceded they would not pursue nuclear weapons. He emphasized that most points in the negotiations were already agreed upon and that the conflict could end in “days, not weeks.”

Claims of US support to Iranian protesters

Additionally, Trump claimed the US had attempted to support Iranian protesters via Kurdish intermediaries, though Kurdish officials in Iraq denied any US arms deliveries to opposition groups in the region.