Trump threatens to take out Iran in ‘one night’ if no deal before deadline
Trump Warns of Iran Strike if Deal Not Reached by Deadline
President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that Iran could face a “one-night” assault if a compromise isn’t finalized before a specific deadline. The target of this potential strike would be Iran’s ability to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for global oil transportation. The deadline, set for 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (00:00 GMT Wednesday), marks the final opportunity for Tehran to agree to unimpeded energy flow through the Gulf.
Communication Challenges and Mediation Efforts
Despite Trump’s confidence in Iran’s willingness to negotiate, a regional official noted that progress remains uncertain without a ceasefire. The official, who chose anonymity due to the sensitive nature of talks, explained that delays in communication have hindered efforts, with responses often taking a day or more. Meanwhile, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt have stepped in as mediators, attempting to bridge the gap between the two nations.
“Meaningful progress is unlikely without a ceasefire first,” the official said.
Trump’s remarks were delivered during a joint press event with General Dan Caine and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, following a recent operation where US forces rescued two Iranian F-15 crew members from southern Iran. While the president acknowledged the “heroic” rescue, he reiterated his threat to strike Iran’s energy and transportation systems if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened by Tuesday.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night,” he said on Monday.
Trump also expressed optimism about Iran’s negotiation stance, citing the recent deaths of multiple Iranian leaders in US and Israeli strikes as a sign of progress. However, Iran has countered by rejecting temporary ceasefire proposals, insisting on a permanent resolution to the conflict and the removal of sanctions.
Legal Risks and Ally Criticism
Legal analysts have raised concerns that targeted attacks on Iranian infrastructure might amount to war crimes. A former Obama-era National Security Council advisor emphasized that destroying all power plants and pressuring civilians to force a government into negotiations could be classified as illegal actions.
“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,” the advisor told CBS.
In addition to the military threat, Trump criticized key allies such as the UK, NATO, and South Korea for not supporting the US during the conflict. He suggested that the alliance’s reputation would suffer permanently, stating that the US “does not need” the UK. According to the Central Command, American forces have executed over 13,000 strikes across Iran since the conflict began.
