US President Donald Trump has just issued an unprecedentedly harsh ultimatum to Iran, causing tensions in the Middle East to escalate rapidly and shaking global energy markets.

In a post on Truth Social on the evening of March 22, 2026 (US time), Trump clearly wrote: “If Iran does not FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT ANY THREAT to the Strait of Hormuz within 48 HOURS from this moment, the United States will strike and destroy their power plants, starting with the largest one first!”

The Strait of Hormuz – the “throat” of the world’s oil supply – is under тιԍнт control and almost completely closed off by Iran as the US-Israel conflict with Iran enters its fourth week. This is the route through which more than 20% of the world’s crude oil is transported daily. The blockade has caused Brent and WTI oil prices to skyrocket, pushing global energy costs to alarming levels and putting serious inflationary pressure on many economies.

Iran reacted immediately and strongly. An Iranian military spokesperson declared that if the US attacked their energy infrastructure, Tehran would target all energy infrastructure, desalination plants, and information technology facilities of the US and its allies in the Gulf region. Iran also ᴀsserted its readiness to permanently close the strait if attacked.

Direct impacts on Vietnam and the region:

Domestic fuel prices are at risk of a sharp increase in the coming days, directly affecting transportation and production costs.
Inflation and logistics costs will face significant pressure, especially since Vietnam imports a large portion of its crude oil.

The stock market and the USD/VND exchange rate are expected to fluctuate sharply due to investor concerns about energy supply disruptions.

International experts consider this one of the riskiest moves by the Trump administration since the conflict erupted. Targeting civilian power plants not only has military implications but also risks causing a humanitarian crisis for over 80 million Iranians.

Despite the initial 48-hour ultimatum, which President Trump has extended twice (first 5 days, then 10 days until April 6, 2026), the situation remains extremely tense. Indirect negotiations are underway, but neither side has made concessions.

The world is holding its breath: Will Iran reopen the strait, or will the conflict escalate into a large-scale energy war? We will provide continuous updates on the latest developments.