The US-Iran war of words escalated on Sunday, with President Donald Trump issuing an expletive-laden warning to Tehran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face action. The latest reaction came after Iran rejected Trump’s earlier demand that it cut a deal within 48 hours or “face hell”.Trump took to social media and used abusive language to call on Iran to allow ships through the strait, while threatening further attacks on Iranian energy and transport infrastructure. In a post on Truth Social, he said, “Tuesday will be power plant day, and bridge day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the **** strait, you crazy b******s, or you’ll be living in hell — just watch! Praise be to Allah”.Iran responded by terming Trump’s language as lacking civility. A post on X said, “The low level of civility and intelligence shown by a leader of a country is regrettable. The shameful fervour with which intentions to commit war crimes are repeated is staggering.” Iran added that invoking the divine despite “ill intentions exposed deep fanaticism”.Earlier in the day, Iran’s central military command rejected Trump’s previous ultimatum, with Gen Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi calling it a “helpless, nervous, unbalanced and stupid action”. Echoing Trump’s language, he warned that “the gates of hell will open for you”.On Saturday, Trump had posted, “Remember when I gave Iran 10 days to make a deal or open the Hormuz Strait,” referring to an ultimatum issued on March 26. “Time is running out — 48 hours before all hell will rain down on them,” he said.Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty said he had spoken over the phone with US envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as well as his Turkish and Pakistani counterparts.The Egyptian Foreign Ministry said Abdelatty had discussed “ideas and proposals to achieve the required calm” and warned of an “unprecedented explosion” in West Asia, without elaborating further.Oman and Iran have also held deputy foreign minister-level talks to discuss options to ensure smooth transit of vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Omani Foreign Ministry. The meeting was held on Saturday at the level of undersecretaries and attended by specialists from both sides.Earlier, Iran had said it was drafting a protocol with Oman to monitor traffic in the strait, through which about a fifth of global oil supplies pass, and which Tehran has severely restricted in response to the ongoing US-Israeli conflict.Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman bin Jassim Al Thani and his Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Jarrah Jaber Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah held talks on regional developments, including recent Iranian attacks on Kuwaiti energy facilities.