PALM BEACH, Florida – President Donald Trump on Saturday evening announced a 48-hour deadline for Iran to fully open up the Strait of Hormuz, warning at 7:44 p.m. Eastern: “If Iran doesn’t FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT, the Strait of Hormuz, within 48 HOURS from this exact point in time, the United States of America will hit and obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
Now, Michael Waltz, U.S.ambassador to the United Nations, says Trump is serious about taking military action with that threat.
“The president is not messing around,” said Waltz on “Sunday Morning Futures” with Maria Bartiromo on the Fox News Channel. “Unlike his predecessors, he stands by his red lines, and he’s not going to allow this genocidal regime to hold the world’s energy supplies or economies hostage.”
.@USAmbUN on Iran: “The president is not messing around. He stands, unlike his predecessors, by his red lines, and he’s not going to allow this genocidal regime to hold the world’s energy supplies or economies hostage.” pic.twitter.com/QfQ0A9w0kK
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 22, 2026
“As the president announced, he will start by attacking and destroying one of Iran’s largest power plants. There are gas-fire thermal power plants and other type of plants and I want to be clear here before there’s kind of hand-wringing out of the international community.”
“The IRGC, which we declared a terrorist organization along with many European countries, control much Iran’s economy, control its critical infrastructure, and continue to powers what’s left of its war effort through this control of its critical infrastructure.”
Regarding the deadline, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Trey Yingst of Fox News: “I think President Trump knows exactly what he’s doing, and whatever we do, we do together, and as far as possible in confidence.”
“If you want proof that Iran endangers the entire world, the last 48 hours have given it.”
PM @netanyahu warns Iran is no longer just a regional threat, citing four escalations in last 48 hours:
– Targeting civilian populations
– Endangering Jerusalem’s holy sites
– Testing… pic.twitter.com/5HQnHyUHp9
— FOX & Friends (@foxandfriends) March 22, 2026
Bartiromo asked Waltz about Iran’s apparent new ability to fire medium-range missiles, including two fired at the Indian Ocean island of Diego Garcia, where a strategic U.S. and U.K. military base is located some 2,500 miles from the Islamic Republic. That puts most of Western Europe within range.
“It’s incredibly significant,” Waltz replied. “Iran has been marching towards an ICBM. They’ve hidden some of that development under a so-called ‘space program.’ I don’t think anybody expects to see any Iranian astronauts on the moon.”
“They have developed a re-entry capability with these intermediate missiles and all you have to do is marry up the two with a nuclear warhead. Thank God President Trump isn’t waiting until that happens and then trying to respond to it. He’s taking care of the issue now and he has been clear for many, many years.”
.@USAmbUN: “As the UN Ambassador, I’ve cited to the Security Council, the two decades of Security Council Resolutions, that countries have voted for around the world, to ensure Iran doesn’t have a nuke— but @POTUS isn’t just going to send strongly-worded letters.” pic.twitter.com/IQbLvZFd9i
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 22, 2026
When asked how many of these intermediate missiles Iran may possess, Waltz did not give a specific number, but indicated: “The important part that’s also getting missed here is that we’re destroying their ability to produce these missiles. We’re destroying their industrial base so that future generations, our kids and grandkids aren’t dealing with this problem like we have been for the last 50 years.”
U.S. forces remain centered on very clear military objectives in eliminating Iran’s ability to project power against Americans, and against its neighbors. pic.twitter.com/OXIKUjukHj
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 21, 2026
On Friday, CBS News reported: “Pentagon officials have made detailed preparations for deploying U.S. ground forces into Iran,” according to multiple sources.
When asked about that, Waltz on Sunday said, “Our Pentagon led by Sec. [Pete] Hegseth and Chairman Dan Cain are preparing, they’re planning. They provide options of trained, in-position and well-equipped soldiers, sailors, airman, Marines to the president for him to take the options as he sees necessary to achieve our objectives.”
Update from CENTCOM Commander on Operation Epic Fury: pic.twitter.com/8yTLrVy4jk
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) March 21, 2026
“I would fully expect the Pentagon to be planning for all scenarios. You saw these fake CNN reports that they hadn’t planned for the Straits of Hormuz and I can tell you as a veteran former soldier, our Central Command led by Adm. [Brad] Cooper has been planning for these scenarios for many, many years. So we would expect that to happen.”
On Thursday in the Oval Office, Trump said: “No, I’m not putting troops anywhere, but quickly added: “If I were, I certainly wouldn’t tell you.”
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