President Trump issued his starkest threat yet toward Iran on Tuesday, warning that an entire "civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Tehran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his 8pm Eastern deadline.
The escalating rhetoric appears designed to pressure Iranian leadership into accepting a deal, with Trump suggesting the outcome remains uncertain. "WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World," he posted on Truth Social.
The threat represents a dramatic intensification of Trump's previous warnings, which included targeting Iran's bridges, power plants, and oil and water infrastructure. Tehran has responded by accusing the U.S. president of threatening war crimes.
Negotiations Continue Under Pressure
Vice President Vance, who is directly involved in Iran diplomacy efforts, indicated from Budapest on Tuesday that negotiations would continue through the deadline. "I am hopeful it will get to a good resolution," he told reporters.
Behind-the-scenes progress has materialized over the past 48 hours, according to sources familiar with the talks, even as Iran has publicly maintained a rigid stance on negotiations. Trump appealed directly to what he called the "different, smarter, and less radicalized" leadership in Iran to "prevail" and change course.
The U.S. military added to the pressure campaign Tuesday morning by striking dozens of military targets on Kharg Island, a strategically important Iranian location. A U.S. official characterized the operations as "re-strikes" on previously targeted military installations and stressed that oil export infrastructure on the island was not the focus of the attacks.
The convergence of maximum rhetoric, active military operations, and last-minute diplomacy underscores the stakes Trump administration officials are attaching to the evening deadline. Whether the combination of threats and negotiating activity produces movement from Tehran remains to be determined.
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