Trump Issues Stark Warning Ahead of Deadline with Iran
In a striking address, President Trump claimed that “the entire civilization will be destroyed tonight” as the 8 PM ET deadline approaches for reaching a deal with Iran. The anticipated failure to strike an agreement could lead to assaults on critical infrastructure like bridges and power stations.
Trump’s warning included, “An entire civilization will perish tonight and never come back. We don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.” He expressed an uncertainty about the future, suggesting that perhaps with a shift in Iran’s regime, a more positive change could occur. “Tonight we will learn one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of our world,” he added.
This threat follows Trump’s previous remarks aimed at Iranian leaders, where he urged them to “open the strait, you lunatic,” referring to the vital Strait of Hormuz, through which a significant portion of the world’s oil is transported.
Since the beginning of the conflict, Iran has utilized drones and missiles, creating unrest in the Strait and causing oil prices to surge. If Iran does not comply with the deadline, Trump hinted he might designate Tuesday as “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day rolled into one.”
Trump later mentioned to Axios that he had been hopeful about a deal, but doubts surfaced when Iran indicated it would respond in five days, leading him to rethink their seriousness.
U.S. Special Envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner have been engaged in discussions with Iranian officials. Trump emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that he would “blow up the whole country” if an agreement isn’t reached soon.
Critics are alarmed, asserting that targeting infrastructure could represent war crimes. Trump, however, dismissed such concerns during a press briefing, stating, “No, not at all. I hope we don’t have to do that.”
Although a temporary freeze on attacks against Iranian energy facilities had been put in place, it was extended up until the current 8 PM ET deadline, largely due to what seemed like progress in talks with Iran.
Despite being cautious about damaging Iran’s power plants—for fear it might hinder recovery efforts after conflict ends—the military maintains pressure on Iranian forces. Army Secretary Pete Hegseth hinted that today would witness the largest military operations since operations began, with future actions expected to escalate further.
In response, Iranian officials have ridiculed Trump’s ultimatum. The U.S. has already conducted a focused operation against Kharg Island, a critical site for Iran’s oil processing, comprising about 90% of its crude oil exports. Attacking this location has been labeled a “red line” by Iranian authorities.
In a statement, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards vowed to “take any action against infrastructure that could deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years.” They also stated their resolve to avoid targeting civilian sites but promised retaliation for any strikes against civilian infrastructure.
