Trump Issues Dire Warning Over Iran Deadline
In a stark warning, President Donald Trump stated that a “civilization will die” if Iran does not reach a deal with the United States by a fast-approaching deadline related to the Strait of Hormuz.
On his Truth Social account, he ominously claimed, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” In a moment of hesitation, he added, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
This message came just 12 hours before his 8:00 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to permit traffic through the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a vital channel through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil is transported.
Trump expressed optimism, writing, “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?” He referred to this moment as potentially one of the most significant in global history, asserting, “47 years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally end.” His message concluded with, “God Bless the Great People of Iran!”
In his post, Trump alluded to the Islamic regime that took control in Iran during the late 1970s. The aftermath of that revolution involved the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis, where 52 Americans were held for 444 days, further souring relations between the two nations.
Months ago, Trump mentioned that regime change in Iran might be beneficial for both Iranians and Americans. He claimed that a strike ordered by Israel and the U.S. had resulted in the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, suggesting his son, Mojtaba Khamenei, had taken over, though his current condition remains uncertain.
In light of this uncertainty, Trump indicated a willingness to engage with other Iranian leaders, such as President Masoud Pezeshkian, especially after Iran sent 10 oil tankers through the Strait to establish their legitimacy.
Initially, Trump set a deadline for Iran to open the Strait by Monday, warning of severe consequences from the U.S. military. However, he postponed this to Tuesday, citing the Easter holiday.
Iranian state media reported threats from military leaders about “devastating and widespread” retaliation if Trump followed through on his threats against key energy infrastructures. So far, the U.S. has avoided targeting major oil facilities within Iran, likely to help the country recover post-conflict.
A U.S. official, speaking to Reuters, confirmed that strikes had been conducted on locations in Iran’s Kharg Island, roughly 300 miles from the Strait of Hormuz. These strikes focused on bridges and a train station, leaving oil infrastructure untouched. Though the attacks did not disrupt global energy markets, they represented a significant escalation in ongoing tensions.
