Trump threatens to take out Iran in ‘one night’ if no deal before deadline
Trump Threatens to Take Out Iran in ‘One Night’ if No Deal Before Deadline
President Donald Trump issued a stark warning, stating that Iran could face a complete annihilation within a single night should it fail to reach a deal by the deadline he imposed. The target date for an “acceptable” agreement, which would ensure unimpeded energy movement through the Gulf, is set for 20:00 EDT on Tuesday. During a Monday address at the White House, Trump noted that “reasonable” Iranian leaders were engaging in negotiations “in good faith,” though the final result remains unclear.
Iran has thus far declined ceasefire proposals, instead demanding an immediate cessation of hostilities, post-war rebuilding, and the removal of sanctions. The president’s remarks came alongside General Dan Caine, the Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman, and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. This event follows the recent retrieval of two F-15 pilot survivors from southern Iran, where their aircraft had been shot down. While Trump emphasized the “heroic” nature of the rescue operation, he reiterated his readiness to strike Iran’s energy and transportation systems if the Strait of Hormuz was not reopened by Tuesday.
“The entire nation can be eliminated in one night – and that night could be tomorrow,” Trump stated.
He further asserted that Iran would be “sent back to the Stone Ages” once the deadline expired, envisioning a scenario without bridges or power plants. Despite earlier Iranian rejections of U.S. demands, Trump maintained confidence that negotiations were progressing earnestly, citing the impact of recent strikes that eliminated layers of Iranian leadership.
A regional official, who wished to stay anonymous due to the sensitivity of the discussions, noted that meaningful progress in talks is improbable without a ceasefire. The official highlighted the challenges posed by an ongoing communications blackout, which delays responses from Iranian officials. “Messages to Iran take a day or two to get a reply,” the official explained.
Meanwhile, legal analysts warned that targeted attacks on Iran’s infrastructure could qualify as war crimes. A former National Security Council legal advisor from the Obama administration told CBS, the BBC’s U.S. partner, that actions like destroying all power plants or pressuring civilians to force government negotiations are “flatly illegal.”
Trump also voiced his discontent with key U.S. allies, including the UK, NATO, and South Korea, accusing them of not supporting the country during the conflict. “That will be a lasting mark on NATO,” he remarked. The U.S. military’s Central Command reported over 13,000 strikes conducted across Iran since the war began, underscoring the scale of the operation.
