WASHINGTON — President Trump issued a stark warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not reach a deal by his 8 pm ET deadline. The consequences, he stated, would involve a barrage of attacks on Iran’s infrastructure, including bridges and power plants.
On Tuesday, Trump took to Truth Social to caution, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
He expressed a glimmer of hope, saying, “However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?” Trump suggested that this could be “one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.”
This latest threat follows Trump’s Sunday message to Iran’s leadership to “Open the F—in’ Strait, you crazy b—–ds, or you’ll be living in Hell,” referencing the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a passage critical for global oil transport.
Since the conflict began, Iran has employed drones and missiles to create chaos in the strait, significantly impacting oil prices. Should Iran ignore his ultimatum, Trump warned of a “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one” on Tuesday.
In an interview with Axios, Trump revealed that he issued the threat after sensing a near agreement, though Iran later indicated they would meet in five days, leading him to question Iran’s sincerity.
Special envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been involved in the negotiations on behalf of the US.
Additionally, Trump threatened to “blow up the whole country” if no agreement is reached. Critics have cautioned that targeting infrastructure could constitute war crimes.
When questioned about these concerns, Trump responded at a press conference on Monday, “No, not at all — no, no I’m not. I hope I don’t have to do it.”
Previously, Trump announced a pause on strikes against Iranian energy facilities, a delay he extended multiple times before setting the 8 p.m. ET Tuesday deadline, citing progress in negotiations.
Since the start of Operation Epic Fury, Trump has been wary of targeting Iran’s power plants due to concerns about the country’s post-conflict recovery, though military pressure on Iran has continued.
“Today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation. Tomorrow? Even more than today,” Secretary of War Pete Hegseth indicated to reporters on Monday.
Iranian officials and social media have mocked Trump’s deadline publicly.
Meanwhile, the US has launched targeted strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, a crucial hub for processing about 90% of its crude exports, according to Axios. Attacks on this island are considered a red line by Iran.
In a statement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards declared, “We will do something with the infrastructure of America and its partners that will deprive America and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years.” They asserted that while they have not initiated attacks on civilian targets, they will retaliate against assaults on civilian facilities.
