WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump has postponed the deadline for Iran to reach an agreement regarding the Strait of Hormuz, moving it from Monday to Tuesday. This marks the latest instance of deadline extensions, with Trump warning that failure to secure a deal would result in severe consequences for Iran.
READ MORE: Trump warns a ‘whole civilization will die tonight’ if a deal with Iran isn’t reached
Initially set for March 23, this deadline has been altered multiple times as the Republican president fluctuated between aggressive threats and optimistic statements about the progress of negotiations. Iran has rebuffed the latest ceasefire proposal, according to the state-run IRNA news agency, prompting Trump to issue a stark warning to Tehran and indicate that the 8 p.m. EDT Tuesday deadline is non-negotiable.
“They’ll have no bridges. They’ll have no power plants. They’ll have no anything,” Trump declared.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres cautioned the U.S. that targeting civilian infrastructure contravenes international law, though Trump expressed no concern over the potential for committing war crimes with such actions.
Ultimatum Regarding the Strait of Hormuz
On March 21, Trump announced on Truth Social that if Iran did not “FULLY OPEN, WITHOUT THREAT,” the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, the U.S. would destroy Iranian power plants. Iran had until March 23 to comply.
A Threat to Desalination Facilities
Just before the deadline, on March 26, Trump reiterated his threats on social media, warning Iran to take negotiations seriously or face dire repercussions. He later extended the deadline another 10 days, citing positive progress in discussions.
Escalating Threats
As the new deadline approached, Trump’s warnings intensified. He stated, “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one… Open the F——-in’ Strait, or you’ll be living in Hell,” emphasizing the urgency of the situation.
The Future of Diplomatic Relations
Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, Iran’s diplomatic representative in Cairo, expressed that Iran no longer trusts the Trump administration due to prior bombings during negotiations. He indicated that they only accept an end to hostilities with guarantees against future attacks. Despite ongoing tensions, a regional official mentioned that discussions were still active between both sides.
Meanwhile, Israeli news outlets featured a countdown clock to Tuesday’s deadline, illustrating the intensity surrounding the negotiations.
