Trump threatens to take out Iran in ‘one night’ if no deal before deadline
Trump Warns of Iran’s Possible Destruction if No Deal by Deadline
US President Donald Trump issued a warning that Iran could be devastated “in one night” if a deal isn’t reached by the set deadline. The threat comes as the administration pushes for Tehran to resume operations on the Strait of Hormuz, a vital global energy artery. Trump’s deadline for an “acceptable” agreement—encompassing unrestricted energy movement through the Gulf—was set for 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (00:00 GMT Wednesday).
Rescue Mission and Strategic Pressure
Speaking at the White House, Trump reiterated his stance that “reasonable” Iranian leaders were engaging in negotiations “in good faith,” though the result still hangs in the balance. The warning follows a recent US military operation that successfully retrieved two F-15 crew members from southern Iran. This action underscored the administration’s readiness to escalate tensions if diplomatic progress stalls.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump stated on Monday.
Trump emphasized that the US could strike Iran’s energy and transportation systems if the Strait of Hormuz remains closed. “They’re going to have no bridges,” he added, “and no power plants,” painting a stark picture of potential devastation. The president also criticized key allies, including the UK, NATO, and South Korea, for not supporting the US during the conflict. “That’s a mark on NATO that will never disappear,” he claimed, suggesting the US could function independently.
Iran’s Stance and Negotiation Hurdles
Iran has rejected proposals for a temporary ceasefire, instead demanding a permanent resolution to the crisis and the removal of sanctions. Regional officials noted that meaningful progress in talks is improbable without a pause in hostilities. A confidential source described the negotiations as challenging due to a communications blackout, making it difficult to secure timely responses from Iranian representatives.
Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt have acted as intermediaries in the discussions. However, Trump offered limited insight into the administration’s next steps, asserting he has “the best plan” but will not reveal it to the media. Legal analysts have cautioned that sustained attacks on Iran’s infrastructure might qualify as war crimes, citing the potential for actions like targeting civilian populations to force a government into negotiations.
“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,” said a former Obama-era National Security Council legal advisor.
The US military’s Central Command reported over 13,000 strikes launched across Iran since the conflict began, highlighting the scale of the offensive. Despite Iran’s earlier resistance, Trump expressed optimism that the country was still negotiating in good faith, citing the loss of successive Iranian leadership figures in US and Israeli strikes as a catalyst for change.