Trump threatens to take out Iran in ‘one night’ if no deal before deadline
Trump Warns of Overnight Strike on Iran if No Agreement by Deadline
President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, stating that Iran could face a complete dismantling of its infrastructure “in one night” if a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reached by Tuesday’s deadline. The critical global energy route, which remains a focal point of tensions, is set to be unblocked by 20:00 EDT (01:00 GMT) on Tuesday, according to Trump’s stated timeline.
Strategic Deadline and Negotiation Stance
Speaking at the White House on Monday, Trump emphasized that he believed Iranian leaders were engaging in “good faith” negotiations, though the outcome was still uncertain. The president highlighted the urgency of the situation, reiterating that the United States could target Iran’s energy and transportation systems if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump declared, underscoring the potential for immediate military action.
Iran has so far rejected ceasefire proposals, insisting instead on an immediate halt to hostilities, post-war reconstruction, and the removal of sanctions. The threat comes days after US forces rescued two F-15 crew members from southern Iran, a move Trump framed as “heroic” during a joint news conference with General Dan Caine and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth.
Regional Perspectives on Negotiations
A regional official, who remained anonymous due to the sensitivity of the discussions, noted that meaningful progress in talks is unlikely without a ceasefire. The official explained that ongoing communication challenges, including a blackout in Iran, have delayed responses from Iranian officials, with average reply times exceeding a day.
Meanwhile, Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt have been actively working as intermediaries to facilitate dialogue. Trump, however, provided limited details on the administration’s future plans, claiming to have “the best plan” but withholding specifics from the media.
Legal and Diplomatic Concerns
Legal experts have raised concerns that sustained attacks on Iran’s infrastructure could amount to a war crime. A former National Security Council advisor from the Obama era told CBS, the BBC’s US partner, that actions such as destroying power plants or coercing civilians to pressure the government “are all flatly illegal.”
Trump expressed confidence that Iran’s population would endure hardships for freedom, even if the goal was not to topple its government. He also criticized key allies, including the UK, NATO, and South Korea, for failing to support the US during the conflict, calling it a “mark on NATO that will never disappear.”
According to the US military’s Central Command, over 13,000 strikes have been launched across Iran since the war began, underscoring the scale of the ongoing operations. Trump’s repeated warnings suggest a readiness to escalate, with the potential for a major military response looming if the deadline passes without resolution.
