Trump says Iran deadline is final, warns of strikes on bridges and power plants
Washington and Tehran are exchanging proposals via Pakistan as the U.S. sets a Tuesday night deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Tehran says it wants a permanent end to the war and has rejected a temporary ceasefire, while Washington pushes a two-phase deal that would start with a truce and move to a broader settlement. The standoff is driving energy markets and raising the risk of wider regional escalation.
Apr 6, 2026, 12:07 PM EDT
Why it matters:
- A U.S. deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz â a chokepoint for about a fifth of global oil and gas â could trigger massive strikes on Iranian infrastructure and spike energy prices worldwide.
- Tehranâs insistence on a permanent end to the war, not a temporary truce, is complicating a potential deal brokered through Pakistan.
Driving the news:
- President Donald Trump said the Tuesday deadline he set for Iran to make a deal is final, calling Tehranâs peace proposal âsignificantâ but ânot good enoughâ.
- He warned U.S. forces would unleash broad attacks on Iranian infrastructure if the deadline is missed, including âPower Plant Dayâ and âBridge Dayâ.
- Iran has rejected the deadline and said it wants a permanent end to the war, not just a temporary ceasefire.
State of play:
- Senior U.S. aides have been negotiating indirectly with Iran through Pakistan, seeking a deal in which Iran forswears nuclear weapons and reopens the Strait of Hormuz.
- The framework, reportedly brokered by Pakistan, suggests an immediate ceasefire and subsequent discussions to complete a wider agreement within 15â20 days. This would encompass Iran's commitments regarding its nuclear program in return for eased sanctions and the release of frozen assets.
- Iran conveyed a 10-point response through Pakistan, including an end to hostilities across the region, a safe-passage protocol for the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction commitments, and lifting of sanctions.
- Iranâs foreign ministry said it wonât reopen the Strait as part of a temporary ceasefire and wonât accept deadlines or pressure to reach a deal.
What they're saying:
- âThey made a proposal, and itâs a significant proposal. Itâs a significant step. Itâs not good enough,â Trump said at a White House Easter event.
- âIt could end very quickly, the war, if they do what they have to do,â Trump added, saying the latest Iranian team âis not as radicalizedâ and âwe think theyâre actually smarterâ.
- âA cease-fire means creating a pause to regroup and commit crimes again,â Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqaei said, rejecting a temporary truce.
- âEvery bridge in Iran will be decimatedâ and âevery power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used againâ if thereâs no agreement, Trump said.
By the numbers:
- The Strait of Hormuz carries about a fifth of the worldâs oil and natural gas supply in peacetime.
- Iran has effectively closed the strait since U.S.-Israeli attacks began on Feb. 28.
- The proposed truce window is 45 days, with a broader settlement to be finalized within 15â20 days.
Reality check:
- Iranâs foreign ministry said negotiations are âincompatible with ultimatums and threats to commit war crimes,â signaling skepticism about a deal under pressure.
- A senior Iranian official said Washington was not ready for a permanent ceasefire, complicating a path to a lasting settlement.
What to watch:
- Whether the U.S. and Iran move from a two-phase truce to a broader deal that includes nuclear constraints and sanctions relief before the Tuesday night deadline.
- Any escalation in strikes on Iranian energy and transport infrastructure if the deadline passes without an agreement.
The bottom line:
- The U.S. is pressing a narrow, time-bound deal to reopen Hormuz; Tehran is demanding a permanent end to the war and rejecting deadlines â a gap that could drive the conflict higher this week.