United States (U.S) President Donald Trump has issued massive threats, warning that Iran’s whole civilization will die without a swift deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The stark message, posted on Truth Social on Tuesday, has sent shockwaves through global markets and diplomatic circles as a critical deadline looms at 8 p.m. ET.
Trump’s warning comes amid ongoing conflict involving U.S strikes on Iranian targets and Tehran’s blockade of the vital shipping lane, which handles a significant portion of the world’s oil supply.
As a self-imposed 8:00 p.m. ET deadline looms, the U.S President stated that Iran’s “whole civilization will die tonight” if the country fails to meet his demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and finalize a sweeping new security agreement.
Over the weekend, Trump said Iran had until Tuesday at 8pm ET (1 am WAT) to make a deal.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he said in a Truth Social post hours ahead of the deadline.
“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?
“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end.”
On Monday, Trump also threatened to blow up Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran failed to adhere to his warning.
Multiple strikes on bridges and railway lines have been reported in Iran since Trump’s threat.
A strike in Iran’s Kashan city reportedly killed two people and injured three others, according to the Iranian state-run news agency IRNA.
Earlier, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) warned Iranians not to use trains and to stay away from the country’s railways for 12 hours.
The U.S has also struck Iran’s strategic Kharg Island — from which almost all the country’s oil is exported.
Meanwhile, IRNA reports that Iran has rejected a ceasefire and noted the necessity of a permanent end to the war.
Iran rejected the ceasefire deal which included a proposed 45-day truce aimed at de-escalating the five-week-long conflict in the Middle East.
“Iran has conveyed to Pakistan its response to the American proposal to end the war,” the news agency IRNA said, without revealing its source or what the US offer contained.
“In this response—set out in ten points—Iran… has rejected a ceasefire and insists on the need for a definitive end to the conflict.”
Several countries are trying to find a diplomatic solution to end 38 days of war sparked by Israeli and U.S attacks against Iran, which has responded by firing missiles at targets across the Middle East.
