Trump threatens to take out Iran in ‘one night’ if no deal before deadline
Trump Threatens to Eliminate Iran’s Infrastructure if No Deal by Deadline
Donald Trump, the US president, issued a stark warning that Iran could face a full-scale assault “in one night” if it fails to reach a deal by Tuesday’s deadline. The target of this potential strike is the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil trade. Trump’s set the clock for an “acceptable” agreement—encompassing unimpeded energy flow through the Gulf—at 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT) on Tuesday.
During a Monday White House address, Trump noted that “reasonable” Iranian leaders were engaging in “good faith” talks, though the final result was still unclear. The remarks came after US forces rescued two F-15 crew members from southern Iran, an event Trump emphasized as a “heroic” achievement. This occurred following a successful operation that retrieved the pilots from a downed jet.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump stated.
Iran has thus far declined ceasefire proposals, pushing instead for an immediate halt to hostilities, post-war rebuilding, and the removal of sanctions. Trump’s news conference, held alongside General Dan Caine and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, followed this latest development.
A regional official, who wished to stay anonymous due to the sensitive nature of discussions, highlighted the challenges of communication. “Messages to Iran take days to receive a response,” they explained, citing ongoing disruptions in messaging channels.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt have been involved in mediation efforts. Trump provided minimal details on the administration’s future strategy, declaring he has “the best plan” but refusing to disclose it to the media.
“Obliterating all power plants, threatening coercive actions against the civilian population to try to bring a government to the negotiating table, those kinds of things are all flatly illegal,” said a former Obama-era legal advisor.
Despite Iran’s initial rejections, Trump expressed optimism that the nation was still negotiating earnestly. He argued that the death of multiple Iranian leaders in recent strikes by US and Israeli forces had not deterred their commitment to talks.
Legal analysts cautioned that sustained attacks on Iran’s infrastructure could qualify as war crimes. However, Trump dismissed concerns, asserting that the Iranian people would “willingly suffer for freedom” without aiming to topple their government.
The president also reiterated his dissatisfaction with key allies, including the UK, NATO, and South Korea, who he claimed had not adequately supported the US during the conflict. “That’s a mark on NATO that will never fade,” he remarked, suggesting the US could function without the UK’s involvement.
According to Central Command updates, American military operations have targeted over 13,000 sites across Iran since the war began, underscoring the intensity of the ongoing campaign.
