President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Iran enters its final hours amid the five-week U.S.-Israeli air campaign, with no clear path to resolution in sight.
The president has issued deadlines before, but this one stands out for its stark detail: devastating strikes targeting bridges and power plants begin at 20:00 Eastern Time Tuesday, or 01:00 GMT Wednesday, leaving the nation’s infrastructure in ruins within four hours.
“Very little is off-limits,” Trump said on Monday.
Iran can avert catastrophe, he insists, by accepting a deal “that’s acceptable to me,” including unrestricted oil transit through the Strait of Hormuz, which carries one-fifth of global supply according to the International Energy Agency.
Yet Tehran has rebuffed a ceasefire and issued sweeping demands labelled “maximalist” by a U.S. official, as reported by The New York Times.
This leaves Trump in a bind. A fourth deadline extension is possible after thwarting over 1,200 Iranian missiles, per Pentagon figures, but backing down risks his credibility following vivid threats laced with profanity.
America’s military edge shines through feats like the weekend’s daring rescue of two downed pilots deep inside Iran, mirroring last year’s “Midnight Hammer” nuclear raid and January’s seizure of Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro. “We won,” Trump declared Monday. “They are militarily defeated. The only thing they have is the psychology of: ‘Oh, we’re going to drop a couple of mines in the water’.”
Iran’s disruption potential in the Strait—via drones, missiles, and mines—looms large, with experts at the Council on Foreign Relations warning of 30 per cent oil price spikes. Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth called the rescue a dodge of “potential tragedy,” underscoring persistent risks.
“We can bomb the hell out of them,” Trump said. “We can knock them for a loop. But to close the Strait, all you need is one terrorist.”
While reluctant to strike, Trump notes reconstruction burdens ahead. “Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No,” he added. “Right now, if we leave today, it will take them 20 years to rebuild their country.” Full assault could mean a century-long recovery, fuelling a regional crisis from Iran’s vowed reprisals.
Still, hope lingers. “We have an active, willing participant on the other side,” he said. “They would like to be able to make a deal. I can’t say any more than that.”
“They have till tomorrow. We’ll see what happens. I believe they’re negotiating in good faith. I guess we’ll find out.” Brent crude climbed five per cent as markets brace.