Trump gives Iran 48-hour ultimatum to reopen Strait of Hormuz: 'Hit and obliterate'

Iran's death toll in the ongoing war in the Middle East has surpassed 1,500, its health ministry claims, as the conflict that began late last month now moves past three weeks.

More than 1,000 people were killed by Israeli strikes in Lebanon, where more than 1 million were also displaced, according to the country's authorities.

In Israel, 15 people were killed by Iranian strikes. More than a dozen civilians in the occupied West Bank and Gulf Arab states have been killed in strikes.

A total of 13 U.S. military members were also killed in the war.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Exiled Iranian Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi urged U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to continue attacking the regime but to spare civilian infrastructure.

"I ask President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu to continue targeting the regime and its apparatus of repression, while at the same time preserving Iran's civilian and vital infrastructure, which our people need to rebuild the country," he wrote on X.

"With the support of the United States of America and Israel, and above all with the sacrifices of patriotic Iranians, the moment of Iran's freedom is near," he continued.

Pahlavi also wrote that Iran’s civilian infrastructure "belongs to the Iranian people and to the future of a free Iran."

"The Islamic Republic’s infrastructure is the machinery of repression and terror used to keep that future from becoming reality. Iran must be protected. The regime must be dismantled," he wrote.

Trump has threatened to "obliterate" Iran’s power plants if the country refuses to open the Strait of Hormuz. The blockade of the strait has caused supply chain disruptions, stopping the movement of oil and increasing energy prices.

But Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said on X that "delirious threats on the battlefield" are strengthening Iran’s unity and showcasing Trump’s desperation.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump spoke with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Sunday to discuss escalating tensions in the Middle East, with a focus on the urgent need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and restore global shipping.

The leaders discussed the current situation in the Middle East, and in particular, the need to reopen the Strait of Hormuz to resume global shipping, Downing Street said in a statement.

"They agreed that reopening the Strait of Hormuz was essential to ensure stability in the global energy market. They agreed to speak again soon."

The call came amid a rapidly intensifying conflict in the region, with Iran blocking the strategically vital strait since the United States and Israel launched coordinated strikes against Iranian targets on Feb. 28.

Find out how the call between Trump and Starmer went.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey.

The Iranian regime is charging some tankers $2 million to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in a bid to further its control over the global shipping choke point, according to reports.

Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi told state broadcaster Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Sunday that the massive toll marks the start of a new approach to controlling the waterway, Iran International reported.

"Collecting $2 million as transit fees from some vessels crossing the strait reflects Iran’s strength," Boroujerdi said during a television program cited by Iranian media.

The member of parliament’s national security committee also said the measure has already been implemented and reflects what he called a new "sovereign regime" in the strait after decades, the outlet said.

Find out how Iran’s threat of a $2 million tanker toll could threaten global oil supply.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey.

Iran is poised to strike critical desalination infrastructure across the Middle East within days, escalating tensions with the U.S. and Israel and triggering global economic fallout, a U.N. official warned Sunday.

Kaveh Madani, an Iranian scientist and U.N. official, said desalination plants across the region could be hit "within the next few days," raising the prospect of a broader regional water crisis and affecting global markets.

The strike threats made by the regime on Sunday came in response to President Donald Trump's warning that the U.S. would hit Iranian power infrastructure unless the Strait of Hormuz was opened within 48 hours.

A spokesperson for the Central Headquarters of Hazrat Khatam al-Anbiya (PBUH) said, "Following previous warnings, if Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy, information technology, and desalination infrastructure belonging to the US and the regime in the region will be targeted."

Find out more about Iran’s threats to water systems in the Middle East.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey.

French President Emmanuel Macron called for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz and urged a halt to attacks on energy infrastructure as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.

Macron said he spoke with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and reaffirmed France’s support for Saudi Arabia amid ongoing attacks.

“I reaffirmed to him France's solidarity and our commitment to contributing to the strengthening of Saudi Arabia's air defenses, at a time when the Kingdom is subjected to repeated and unacceptable attacks by Iranian missiles and drones,” Macron said on X. “In the face of the risk of escalation spiraling out of control, it has become more necessary than ever for all warring parties to agree to a temporary halt to attacks on energy facilities and civilian infrastructure, and for Iran to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.

“The current phase calls for responsibility and restraint, in order to create the conditions for resuming dialogue, which alone can guarantee peace and security for all,” he continued. “At this critical juncture, the G7 and the Gulf Cooperation Council should strengthen their coordination. France and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are working together in this direction.”

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-NY, rebuked President Donald Trump on Sunday and said he should keep his "reckless mouth shut" after the president called Democrats the "greatest enemy" in America.

"Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democratic Party! Thank you for your attention to this matter. President DJT," the president wrote on Truth Social.

CNN's Dana Bash asked Jeffries to react to the statement during Sunday's "State of the Union."

"Donald Trump should keep his reckless mouth shut before he gets somebody killed," Jeffries said.

Find out what else Jeffries had to say about Trump.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Hanna Panreck.

A British nuclear-powered submarine has been deployed to the Arabian Sea amid rising tensions in the region and came ahead of Iran’s failed ballistic missile attempt targeting Diego Garcia, a key U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean, according to reports.

HMS Anson — a Royal Navy Astute-class submarine armed with Tomahawk Block IV cruise missiles and Spearfish heavyweight torpedoes — traveled about 5,500 miles from HMAS Stirling, near Perth, Australia, to the region earlier in March.

The submarine is reportedly operating in the northern Arabian Sea, positioning Britain to respond quickly if the conflict escalates.

HMS Anson periodically surfaces to maintain communications with the U.K.’s Permanent Joint Headquarters in London, GB News reported.

Find out more about the U.K. submarine deployed to the Arabian Sea.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Emma Bussey.

As conflict continues in the Middle East, a prominent tourist hotspot known for its luxury lifestyle and influencer presence was hit, with defenses intercepting incoming missiles and drones.

Influencers based in Dubai spoke with Fox News Digital about daily life in the city and why they remain comfortable living there amid the ongoing conflict. The former U.S. residents described Dubai as safer than many U.S. cities.

"I always say this: You could carry $2 million cash with you in any part of Dubai, absolutely nothing would ever happen to you. I don't think I could ever do that in a major U.S. city, ever, you know. That would not be possible in my mind," Mike Babayan said.

Babayan, known as "nitrotrades" on Instagram and TikTok, is a social media influencer in the financial world from Los Angeles, who has been living in Dubai since 2020. He used to split his time between LA and Dubai, and now resides in Dubai full-time.

Find out what influencers say about the safety in Dubai.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Elizabeth Heckman and Alba Cuebas-Fantauzzi.

Gas prices are rising nationwide as war in the Middle East send shockwaves through global energy markets, pushing the national average to $3.94 per gallon, according to AAA.

Prices are climbing across nearly every region, with some states already well above the national average. On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.76 per gallon in California and $4.84 in Washington. 

In the Midwest, Illinois stands out at $4.16 per gallon, while much of the region remains closer to the mid-$3 range. Southern states are generally lower, though still rising, with Texas at $3.62 and Florida at $3.94.

Along the East Coast, prices are approaching or exceeding $3.80 in several areas, including $3.84 in New York and $3.78 in Maine.

Diesel is outpacing gasoline due to its link to freight and industry, meaning increases can ripple through supply chains and raise costs. It averaged $5.25 a gallon, up $1.54 over the same period, according to AAA.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz said the Trump administration is working to blunt rising oil prices by allowing Iranian crude already at sea to be sold, a move he described as turning Tehran’s own strategy against it.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent first outlined the approach, saying the administration could temporarily lift sanctions on roughly 140 million barrels of Iranian oil loaded on tankers, adding supply to global markets rather than intervening directly in oil futures.

Waltz said those shipments — previously bound largely for China — could instead be redirected to other countries, while existing financial sanctions remain in place.

"Now they can go to places like India, Bangladesh or elsewhere," Waltz said on "Sunday Morning Futures."

Find out what else Walz said about Trump’s strategy.

This is an excerpt from a story by Fox News Digital’s Taylor Penley.

The Israeli military said it carried out a series of strikes Sunday targeting Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, including a key crossing used to transport weapons across the Litani River.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the crossing was used by Hezbollah to move weapons and fighters between northern and southern parts of the river.

“Today (Sunday), the IDF struck a crossing over the Litani River that was used by Hezbollah terrorists to maneuver from north to south of the Litani River in Lebanon,” the IDF said. “The Hezbollah terrorist organization used this crossing to transfer thousands of weapons, rockets, and rocket launchers, which were used to carry out terror attacks from the southern Litani area against IDF soldiers and Israeli civilians.”

“The crossing was struck in order to prevent harm to Israeli civilians, as well as to Lebanese civilians,” the IDF said.

“In an additional wave of strikes today in the Nabatieh area in southern Lebanon, approximately 15 Hezbollah command centers were struck,” the statement continued.

“The IDF is operating decisively against the Hezbollah terrorist organization in response to its deliberate decision to attack Israel on behalf of the Iranian terror regime,” the IDF said. “The IDF acts to remove threats to civilians of the State of Israel.”

U.S. jet fuel prices are spiking after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran, nearly doubling in a matter of weeks. The surge is already driving up airline costs and raising the risk of higher fares.

After months of stability, prices climbed from about $2.50 to $4.56 per gallon by March 20, highlighting the market’s sensitivity to supply disruptions.

Jet fuel, one of airlines’ largest costs, is particularly volatile due to thin inventories, specialized storage and limited spot trading—factors that can amplify price swings when supply tightens.

Airlines are already feeling the impact. Industry leaders warned last week that rising fuel costs are driving up expenses, threatening fare increases and forcing some carriers to trim flights.

Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian said the spike added as much as $400 million in costs in March alone, with airlines moving quickly to pass increases on through higher fares.

American Airlines similarly expects fuel to add about $400 million to its first-quarter expenses.

Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., urged President Donald Trump to escalate U.S. action against Iran, suggesting the U.S. take control of Kharg Island and “let this regime die on a vine” as tensions in the Middle East continue to rise.

Graham was a guest on “Fox News Sunday,” when he shared his take on Iran with host Shannon Bream.

“Here's what I tell President Trump: Keep it up for a few more weeks. Take Kharg Island, where all of the resources they have to produce oil,” the senator said. “Control that island. Let this regime die on a vine.”

The South Carolina Republican argued Iran is closer than ever to developing a nuclear weapon, claiming the regime had amassed 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60% — just short of weapons-grade material.

“If you go to 90%, you got a weapon… 60 to 90 is two weeks,” Graham said, adding that such a stockpile could produce multiple nuclear bombs.

Graham also pointed to Iran’s missile capabilities, warning the country has launched projectiles capable of traveling roughly 4,000 kilometers, and said efforts to curb Tehran’s nuclear and weapons programs have failed.

He praised President Trump’s recent actions, saying Iran’s missile and nuclear capabilities have been “obliterated,” and urged continued pressure for several more weeks to further weaken the regime.

Graham said neutralizing Iran could pave the way for a broader peace deal in the Middle East, including potential normalization between Saudi Arabia and Israel.

“We’re weeks away from this Iranian regime not having the capability to stop peace,” he said.

Four people, including three police officers, were killed Sunday when an Israeli strike hit a vehicle in the central Gaza Strip’s Nuseirat refugee camp, according to reports.

The Associated Press reported that officials at Awda Hospital confirmed the attack, adding that eight others were wounded in the strike, along with another person injured in a separate incident in Gaza City.

The deaths mark the latest reported fatalities in Gaza since Israel and Hamas reached a ceasefire agreement in October following months of fighting.

The U.S. State Department on Sunday warned Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution, citing rising security risks and the potential for attacks targeting U.S. interests amid escalating tensions tied to Iran.

The alert, which applies globally but emphasizes risks in the Middle East, notes that U.S. diplomatic facilities have already been targeted and warns that groups supportive of Iran may carry out attacks against American-linked locations abroad.

“Americans abroad should follow the guidance in security alerts issued by the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate,” the State Department said. “Periodic airspace closures may cause travel disruptions.”

“U.S. diplomatic facilities, including outside the Middle East, have been targeted,” the alert continued. “Groups supportive of Iran may target other U.S. interests overseas or locations associated with the United States and/or Americans throughout the world.”

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez urged that the Strait of Hormuz be opened on Sunday, warning of a potential global energy crisis as fighting escalates in the Middle East.

“The Government of Spain demands the opening of Hormuz and the preservation of all the energy sites of the Middle East,” he wrote on X. “We stand at a global tipping point. Further escalation could trigger a long-term energy crisis for all humanity. The world should not pay the consequences of this war.”

President Donald Trump’s 48-hour ultimatum continues to tick on Sunday as Tehran must decide to either reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face U.S. strikes on its power plants.

Trump issued the proposition on Saturday night. The Iranian regime’s only response so far has been a threat of retaliation against U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets.

"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!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social.

The president's threat represents a notable escalation in rhetoric as tensions surge over the strategically vital waterway. Trump is facing increasing pressure at home to secure the strait as oil prices soar.

Traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a global choke point for oil and gas transport that supplies roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil, has been largely limited since early March, shortly after the war with Iran began.

Meanwhile, Iran has continued to launch missiles at Israel, striking two communities in southern Israel late Saturday, leaving buildings shattered and dozens injured in dual attacks not far from Israel’s main nuclear research center.

Fox News Digital’s Michael Sinkewicz and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

President Donald Trump shared a clip of “Saturday Night Live UK” mocking British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s over his handling the Strait of Hormuz and the Iran war.

In the sketch, cast member George Fouracres portrays Starmer as too frightened to take a call from Trump, eventually taking advice from a Gen-Z adviser on how to preserve his “special relationship” with the president.

“I’ll do anything, except take a stand,” the comedian says.

Tensions rose between Trump and Starmer when the Iran war first broke out, as the American president accused the prime minister of taking “far too long" to allow the U.S. to use British bases in the region. Starmer initially refused to let the U.S. attack Iran from Diego Garcia in the Indian Ocean but has since changed course.

Trump said earlier this month that “the U.K. has been very, very uncooperative with that stupid island that they have,” referring to Diego Garcia.

After Iran lashed out at its neighbors in the region, the U.K. said American bombers could use Diego Garcia and another British base to attack Iran’s missile sites. On Friday, the U.K. government said that includes sites being used to attack ships in the Strait of Hormuz.

Britain condemned “reckless attacks” after Iran fired missiles toward the U.S.-U.K. military base on Diego Garcia on Friday, with Britain’s Ministry of Defense describing Iran as “lashing out across the region.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte appeared on “Fox News Sunday” to discuss President Donald Trump’s criticism of allies regarding the ongoing efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and Iran’s growing threat.

Rutte acknowledged Trump’s anger with the 32-country alliance over his push to get the countries more involved in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil exports and other goods.

“I know the president was angry because he feels that European and other allies have been too slow,” Rutte said.

The NATO chief stressed the “good news” that more than 20 countries, most from NATO, were “coming together to implement his vision of making sure that the Strait of Hormuz is free.”

Rutte said other nations outside of NATO looking to work together on the issue included Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

“So we are now planning the military people and others amongst this group of 22 nations and with the U.S.,” Rutte said.

The Israeli Air Force carried out a wide-scale wave of strikes on the Iranian regime’s military systems and capabilities near Tehran, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said.

The targeted sites included an Iranian military base used for training soldiers and storing missile systems intended to target aircraft, a weapons production and storage facility of the Iranian Ministry of Defense and a weapons production site of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ (IRGC) air force, according to the IDF.

Strikes also hit an additional headquarters of the Iranian Ministry of Intelligence and the emergency headquarters of the regime’s Internal Security Forces, it said.

“The completed strikes are part of the current operational phase aimed at further degrading the core systems and foundations of the Iranian terror regime,” the IDF said.

Former Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett issued a warning to Europe regarding Iran's missile range on Sunday during an appearance on Fox News.

Bennett told Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst in Arad, a city in southern Israel where an Iranian missile strike injured more than 100 people, that the U.S. and Israel are fighting to protect Europe and prevent a nuclear “nightmare.”

“It's important that Europe now wakes up, understands that America and Israel, with the leadership of President Trump, are preventing a nuclear Iranian nightmare on all of Europe,” Bennett said.

“We're fighting this war to protect them,” he continued. “Now the lie has been revealed. Iran has missiles that can reach Madrid, that can reach Berlin, that can reach Paris. And now they suddenly woke up and understand that they're under an Iranian threat.”

Iran launch of two intermediate-range ballistic missiles on Friday toward Diego Garcia, a key U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean. The targeting of Diego Garcia, roughly 2,500 miles from Iran, means Tehran’s missile capabilities appear to have exceeded previously acknowledged limits.

Israel Defense Forces Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir on Saturday said the range of these missiles can reach the capitals of many European countries.

Fox News Digital's Benjamin Weinthal contributed to this report.

Israel Defense Forces (IDF) on Sunday said it has begun “a wave of extensive strikes” against Hezbollah’s infrastructure in southern Lebanon.

The IDF did not immediately specify what kind of infrastructure was being targeted.

It earlier said Israel eliminated Abu Khalil Barji, a commander of the special forces in Hezbollah’s Radwan Force responsible for attacking IDF troops, and two other terrorists near the village Majdal Selm in southern Lebanon.

The IDF also earlier announced it eliminated a senior Hamas official in Lebanon.

The official, Walid Muhammad Dib, operated under Hamas’ central financial ministry, transferring funds throughout Lebanon and other countries, along with recruiting terror operatives from Syria and Lebanon, according to the IDF.

President Donald Trump on Sunday blasted the Democratic Party as “the greatest enemy America has” behind the Iranian regime.

Trump fired off the claim in a post on his Truth Social platform.

“Now with the death of Iran, the greatest enemy America has is the Radical Left, Highly Incompetent, Democrat Party!” Trump wrote.

As a partial government shutdown blows past the one-month mark, Democrats are demanding lawmakers shrink the size of the Department of Homeland Security’s funding lapse — while leaving Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the heart of Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Fox News Digital's Leo Briceno contributed to this post.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) on Sunday shared photos of an Iranian ballistic missile facility before and after U.S. strikes. 

CENTCOM said the two photos show the Kuh-E Barjamali Ballistic Missile Assembly Facility, which the Iranian regime used to build close, short and medium-range ballistic missiles. 

“The first photo shows what the location looked like on March 1, 2026. The photo dated March 7, 2026 is what the buildings look like now. Out of commission,” the command said. 

CENTCOM previously said that U.S. forces’ military objective remains centered on “eliminating Iran’s ability to project power against Americans, and against its neighbors.”

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News on Sunday that other world leaders should join the U.S. and Israel against Iran, arguing the regime is “putting everyone in their sights” and “trying to blackmail the entire world.”

Netanyahu spoke to Fox News chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst after an Iranian ballistic missile slammed into a residential area in the southern city of Arad overnight, injuring more than 100 people.

“Israel and the United States are working together for the entire world, and it's time to see the leaders of the rest of the countries join up,” Netanyahu said. “I'm happy to say that I can see some of them beginning to move in that direction, but more is needed.”

The prime minister warned that the regime in the last 48 hours showed “proof that Iran endangers the entire world” with strikes against Israeli civilian areas and firing ballistic missiles toward Diego Garcia, a key U.S.-U.K. military base in the Indian Ocean.

“I've been warning all the time. They have now the capacity to reach deep into Europe. They already have fired on the European country, Cyprus,” Netanyahu said. “They are putting everyone in their sights.”

The prime minister also cited the regime’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for oil exporting.

“They're stopping a maritime, international route energy route and trying to blackmail the entire world,” Netanyahu said of the Iranian regime. “What more proof do you need that this regime that threatens the entire world has to be stopped?”

Yingst also asked whether Israel would join the U.S. in strikes against the Iranian power grid after President Donald Trump’s warned that the U.S. would “obliterate” Iran’s power plants if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. 

“I think President Trump knows exactly what he's doing,” Netanyahu said. “And whatever we do, we do together and as far as possible in confidence.”

Iran said Sunday that any strike targeting its energy infrastructure would result in retaliatory attacks against U.S. and Israeli energy and infrastructure assets in the region.

“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy and information technology infrastructure and desalination plants belonging to the United States and the Israeli entity in the region will be targeted,” Iran said in a statement carried by state media and semi-official outlets, citing an Iranian military spokesperson.

President Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum to Iran in a post on Truth Social on Saturday, warning the U.S. would strike its power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.

"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!" Trump said.

The Strait of Hormuz is a global chokepoint for oil and gas transport that supplies roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil. Traffic through the strait has been largely limited since early March, shortly after the war with Iran began.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Iran has increased executions and arrests across the country as the United States continues strikes in the Middle East.

Mooné Rahimi, a student and activist previously arrested by the morality police, said the regime is using fear tactics to hold the nation "hostage."

Rahimi said on "Fox & Friends Weekend" that Iranian civilians view the ongoing war as a desperate "rescue mission" from a regime that uses arrests and executions to maintain its grip on power."

This situation that is happening in Iran, they call it [a] rescue mission, especially the people inside Iran," said Rahimi, who left Iran several years ago and is now studying in the United States.

"This barbaric, brutal regime treats women in a very intense way. If there is a protester, a woman protester, in the street of Iran, they're going to arrest them, and they're going to put them in a jail and, at the end, they're going to hang them as they're doing it like those executions that are happening," she added.

This is an excerpt of an article by Fox News Digital's Madison Colombo