President Trump arrives at Palm Beach Airport, Florida [Photo=Yonhap News]

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned Iran that he will strike major power plants within 48 hours if they do not immediately open the Strait of Hormuz.

In a message released on the 21st (local time), President Trump stated, "If Iran does not fully open the Strait of Hormuz without any threats, the United States will strike and destroy various Iranian power plants within 48 hours from now," adding, "We will start with the largest facilities."

This statement comes amid situations where Iran is restricting or selectively allowing passage through the Strait of Hormuz, and is interpreted as an intention by the U.S. to directly target land-based infrastructure in response to maritime control.

The Strait of Hormuz is a key maritime route through which approximately 20% of global crude oil and liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo passes, and is a strategic chokepoint that would immediately shock the international energy market if blockaded.

President Trump's remarks are noteworthy in that they suggest a response method that incapacitates a country's core functions for a short period, rather than occupation or long-term stationing.

In particular, power infrastructure such as power plants are facilities directly linked to the overall operation of a country, including military communication, air defense systems, and industrial production. A strike could simultaneously impact the military, economy, and society.

Regarding the specific target of "the largest power plant," the Shahid Salimi Power Plant, located in Neka, Mazandaran Province, northern Iran, is being cited as a likely candidate.

This facility is a large thermal power plant with a capacity of approximately 2,000MW or more, and it plays a central role in supplying electricity to northern Iran.

The Neka power plant is adjacent to the Caspian Sea coast, making it relatively accessible via sea or long-range precision strike means, and it is evaluated as having a high military priority due to being a fixed target.

Furthermore, this power plant is a major hub in the power grid connected to the capital, Tehran, and a strike could directly affect the stability of electricity supply in the metropolitan area.

In this case, beyond a mere disruption of electricity supply, national functions including industrial infrastructure, military communication networks, and air defense systems could be pressured simultaneously.

Experts believe that an attack targeting power infrastructure could effectively limit a country's ability to function.

Consequently, President Trump's warning is interpreted as formalizing a "functional paralysis strike strategy" that directly targets Iran's energy infrastructure in response to control of the Strait of Hormuz.

This is interpreted as a signal that the nature of warfare is changing to one that incapacitates a country's core systems in a short period, unlike traditional occupation-centric military operations.