Cerebro

Select Region

Select Language

Back to Top Stories

Trump says all of Iran could be 'eliminated' by Tuesday night

The president set a Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its energy infrastructure and bridges. He also said Tehran is actively negotiating through intermediaries, while Iran warned it won't bargain under threats.

Apr 6, 2026, 2:56 PM EDT
Why it matters:
  • A Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz — a critical oil chokepoint — could spike energy prices and intensify a regional war.
  • Trump’s threat to strike Iran’s energy grid and bridges raises the risk of a major escalation.
Driving the news:
  • Donald Trump said “all of the country could be eliminated in one night,” adding that night “could very well be tomorrow (Tuesday)”.
  • He set a Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its energy infrastructure and bridges.
  • The U.S. has a plan to attack and destroy bridges and power plants across Iran by midnight Tuesday if no deal is reached, Trump said.
State of play:
  • Trump said Iran is an “active and willing participant” in talks via intermediaries and that negotiations are “going well”.
  • Mediators — including Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey — are working on a two‑phase deal: a possible 45‑day ceasefire to enable a final settlement, followed by a permanent end to the war.
  • The proposed final deal would include full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz and a solution for Iran’s highly enriched uranium — either removal from the country or dilution.
  • Iran transmitted a 10‑point proposal via Pakistan seeking a definitive end to hostilities, a safe‑passage protocol for the strait, and sanctions relief, while rejecting a temporary truce.
What they're saying:
  • “All of the country could be eliminated in one night, and that night could very well be tomorrow (Tuesday),” Trump said in a White House press conference.
  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said U.S. forces will launch the largest volume of attacks since the operation began on Feb. 28, with even more expected Tuesday, urging Iran to choose.
  • Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Ismail Bagaei said negotiations are “not at all compatible with criminal ultimatums or threats to commit war crimes”.
  • Military spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari warned that if civilian targets are hit again, Iran’s retaliatory operations will be “much more crushing and extensive”.
Reality check:
  • Trump said he cannot speak of a ceasefire but insisted the 8 p.m. ET deadline is final and that talks are ongoing.
  • The White House said Iran’s peace proposal was “significant” but “not good enough” for a 45‑day truce, underscoring the gap between the sides.
What to watch:
  • Whether Iran accepts a 45‑day truce framework and commits to reopening the Strait of Hormuz by the Tuesday deadline.
  • If the U.S. executes strikes on bridges and power plants after midnight Tuesday, and the scale of any retaliatory actions.
  • Oil prices and shipping insurance costs, which could surge if Hormuz remains blocked or if strikes escalate.
The bottom line:
  • The world is watching whether diplomacy beats a Tuesday ultimatum — or whether strikes on Iran’s energy grid and bridges turn the clock to escalation.