President Trump escalated military posture by demanding Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face strikes on its largest power plants. This marks a strategic shift from targeting military assets to civilian energy infrastructure to maximize pressure on Iran’s leadership.

The de facto closure of the Hormuz chokepoint halted tanker traffic through the route handling roughly 20% of global crude and LNG, forcing major Persian Gulf producers to slash output. Near-zero shipments have sharply tightened global supply and heightened price volatility.

United Airlines plans for oil to surge to $175 per barrel and remains elevated through 2027, prompting a 5% reduction in planned capacity. The airline will trim off-peak flights, suspend select international routes and maintain long-term aircraft and infrastructure investments.

The 48-hour deadline injects urgency for commodities traders as the risk premium for crude futures could spike if shipping remains halted. Prolonged closure or strikes on power plants may further amplify regional risk and drive sustained price surges.