Trump says open the’’f***g Strait’’, Iran mocks ’we’ve lost the keys’

April 6 - Tehran has taken a sharp swipe at US President Donald Trump after his repeated threats to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with the Iranian Embassy in Zimbabwe sarcastically claiming it had “lost the keys.” Reacting in similar vein, Iran’s embassy in South Africa joked: “Shh… the key’s under the flowerpot.  Just open for friends.

This comes after US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran, saying that if Tehran does not meet his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, “hell will rain down on them.”

Trump, in a series of posts on Truth Social, wrote: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F****g’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP.” He added, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT. Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will rain down on them. Glory be to GOD! President DONALD J. TRUMP.”

The US president has repeatedly extended deadlines for Iran to reopen the critical energy chokepoint, most recently pushing it to April 6. His posts came amid rising tensions in the Middle East, with Tehran warning of possible wider disruptions, including at Bab al-Mandab, while global oil prices have surged.

Trump’s administration, which launched Operation Epic Fury with Israel on February 28, had initially outlined goals including dismantling Iran’s missile capabilities, crippling its navy, and blocking any path to a nuclear weapon. The president has alternated between threatening ground troop deployments and ruling them out, while at the same time overseeing a buildup of 50,000 US troops in the region.

Observers note that Trump’s messaging on the conflict and the Strait of Hormuz has shifted repeatedly. He has claimed the war had “nothing to do with oil” but later suggested the US should “take the oil & make a fortune.” On the Strait, he initially suggested other nations could handle it once the US withdrew, but later asserted that Washington could “easily” reopen it itself.

Iran has rejected Trump’s proposals, calling them “unrealistic, illogical and excessive,” even as he paused strikes on the country’s energy infrastructure until April 6. The standoff continues to heighten tensions in the region, with the strategic Strait of Hormuz remaining a flashpoint for international attention.