When the Iconic 'You're Fired' Remark is Used by Iran to Mock Trump
An ultimatum from United States President Donald Trump to Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours or face a blackout in Tehran has sparked mockery. An Iranian military official ridiculed Trump with the signature phrase ‘You’re Fired’.
According to AFP, on Sunday (22/3), Donald Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to fully open the Strait of Hormuz for shipping traffic or face the destruction of its energy infrastructure.
“If Iran does not fully open, without threat, the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours from now, the United States will attack and destroy various power plants of theirs, starting with the largest first!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform a few days ago.
Since the US and Israel launched a war against Iran on 28 February, Iran has effectively closed the strait in retaliation. Around 20% of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas passes through the strait.
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has forced countries reliant on that shipping route to seek alternative paths and utilise reserves. The disruption of supplies from the Gulf has caused fuel prices to soar worldwide, threatening governments with increasingly widespread inflation the longer the war continues.
‘You’re Fired!’ Mockery!
Iran has vowed to launch a harsh retaliatory strike if the US proceeds with its threats to attack the country’s energy and electricity networks if the Strait of Hormuz remains blockaded.
Spokesman for Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, then mocked Donald Trump. The mocking statement was delivered ahead of Trump’s ultimatum deadline for the full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
“Hey Trump, YOU’RE FIRED! You’re already familiar with this sentence. Thank you for your attention to this matter,” Zolfaghari said in an English-language video clip reported by Al Jazeera on Monday (23/3).
‘You’re fired!’ is the signature phrase popularised by Trump when he was the host of the TV show The Apprentice. Trump used this phrase to eliminate contestants and it became his hallmark slogan.
Trump Delays Attack on Iran’s Power Plants
Trump later stated that his country and Iran had held productive conversations over the weekend. Trump will postpone military strikes on Iran’s power plants and energy sites for five days.
According to CNN on Monday (23/3), writing in all capital letters on Truth Social, Trump said he made the decision to delay the threatened attack based on the “tone and content” of the discussions.
“I am pleased to report that the United States and the country of Iran have held, over the last two days, very good and productive conversations regarding a complete and total resolution of our hostilities in the Middle East,” Trump said.
“Based on the touch and tone of these in-depth, detailed, and constructive conversations, which will continue throughout this week, I have instructed the Department of War to postpone all military strikes against Iran’s power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, provided there is success in the ongoing meetings and discussions,” he continued.
Until last week, Trump said he was not interested in a ceasefire with Iran. “We can talk, but I don’t want a ceasefire,” he said on Friday afternoon (20/3).