Trump Warns of Potential Strike on Iran Over Strait of Hormuz Dispute

US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning, stating that Iran could face a “one-night” attack if it does not secure a deal by the specified deadline. The deadline, set for 20:00EDT (01:00GMT) on Tuesday, requires Tehran to resume unimpeded energy flow through the Gulf’s strategic corridor. During a Monday press event at the White House, Trump emphasized that “reasonable” Iranian leaders were engaged in negotiations in “good faith,” though the outcome remains uncertain.

Iran Rejects Ceasefire Proposals

Iran has so far declined US-led ceasefire offers, instead demanding an immediate halt to hostilities, post-war rebuilding, and sanctions relief. Trump’s address, held alongside General Dan Caine and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth, followed the successful recovery of two F-15 pilots captured in southern Iran. While the rescue was highlighted as a “heroic” operation, Trump reiterated his readiness to target Iran’s energy and transportation networks if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by Tuesday.

“The entire country can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump stated during the Monday briefing.

Should the deadline pass, Trump predicted Iran would be thrust back to the “Stone Ages,” envisioning a scenario where the nation loses its infrastructure, including bridges and power plants. Despite prior Iranian rejections of US demands, he expressed cautious optimism, citing the recent casualties of Iranian leadership in US and Israeli strikes as a catalyst for negotiations.

Communication Challenges Complicate Talks

A regional official, who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the discussions, noted that progress in talks is unlikely without a ceasefire. The official explained that ongoing communication disruptions have hindered timely exchanges between Iranian officials and negotiators, with responses often delayed by a day or more.

Efforts to mediate have involved Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt, though Trump provided minimal details on the administration’s next steps. He claimed to have “the best plan” but withheld specifics from the media. Legal analysts have cautioned that sustained attacks on Iran’s infrastructure could amount to a war crime, citing the destruction of power plants and potential civilian coercion as violations of international law.

“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.

Trump dismissed concerns about civilian suffering, asserting that Iran’s population would “willingly endure hardship for freedom” even if regime change was not his aim. He also criticized key allies, including the UK, NATO, and South Korea, for failing to support the US during the conflict. According to Central Command, over 13,000 strikes have been launched against Iran since the war began, underscoring the scale of military engagement.