WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not reach a deal by his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump made the statement in a post on his Truth Social platform Tuesday morning. “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” he wrote. He added that the evening could mark “one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World.”
The deadline is set for 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. Trump has demanded that Iran agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway for global oil shipments, as part of any deal to ease the ongoing conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran. He has threatened strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges if the deadline passes without compliance.
Iranian officials have urged young people to form human chains to protect power plants, according to reports from Tehran. Airstrikes have hit infrastructure in Iran, including bridges and a train station, earlier on Tuesday.
Details of any ongoing negotiations remain unclear. Iran has previously rejected a proposed temporary ceasefire, calling instead for a permanent end to the conflict, multiple news outlets reported.
The Strait of Hormuz has been a central point of tension in the escalation. Trump has repeatedly linked reopening the waterway to broader efforts to resolve the conflict, which has involved U.S. and Israeli military actions against Iranian targets.
In a White House news conference on Monday, Trump said the entire country could be “taken out in one night” if demands are not met, according to accounts from the briefing.
Iranian responses to Trump’s latest warning were not immediately detailed in available reports. The Iranian government has previously described similar U.S. statements as “delusional” and baseless threats.
The developments come amid heightened activity in the region. U.S. strikes have targeted sites such as Kharg Island, according to officials cited in news coverage.
As the deadline approached Tuesday evening, no confirmation of a deal or new military action was reported. Trump’s post left open the possibility of a different outcome, stating that with “complete and total regime change” where “different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?”
The situation remained fluid with hours left before the 8 p.m. ET cutoff. Officials on both sides have not released further statements on potential next steps as the deadline nears.
