President Donald Trump dramatically escalated his rhetoric this Sunday, April 6, 2026, promising "hell" for Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday night. In a statement published on his social network Truth Social, then repeated during an impromptu press conference at Mar-a-Lago, the US head of state used unusually blunt language, calling Iranian leaders terms that the international press has largely described as insults. Le Monde reports that Trump threatened to "bomb power plants and bridges" if Tehran does not yield. (
This ultimatum comes on the thirty-eighth day of the conflict, triggered on February 28, 2026, by US-Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities. Since then, Tehran has closed the Strait of Hormuz – a vital artery for global oil trade – and has multiplied missile and drone attacks against US bases in the Gulf, Israel, and countries in the region accused of supporting the operation. US presidential rhetoric has progressively radicalized, moving from promises of "surgical strikes" to that of "massive destruction of Iranian civilian and military infrastructure." (
Iran's response was swift. The Foreign Ministry spokesperson called Trump's remarks "boasts of a declining regime" and warned that any further escalation would lead to "devastating" reprisals against American interests in the region. Tehran reiterated that it possesses an arsenal of ballistic missiles capable of reaching all US bases in the Middle East and reaffirmed its position: the Strait of Hormuz will only reopen in exchange for a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of US naval forces from the Persian Gulf. (
Washington's European allies are observing this verbal escalation with growing concern. The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs called "on all parties to exercise restraint" and reaffirmed the EU's support for the Egyptian-Pakistani-Turkish mediation. Paris, Berlin, and London issued a joint statement urging the United States to "prioritize the diplomatic path" and allow mediators the time needed to finalize their 45-day ceasefire proposal. (
Financial markets immediately reacted to the presidential threats. Brent crude oil futures surged 4% in Asian trading, exceeding $118 a barrel. Gold reached a new all-time high of $3,280 an ounce, while Asian stock indices opened sharply lower. Analysts agree on one point: Tuesday night's ultimatum represents the most dangerous moment of the conflict since its outbreak, with potentially irreversible consequences for the global economy if strikes intensify. (
