WASHINGTON, April 6 (Xinhua) – U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that Iran could be “taken out” in one night and that night “might” be Tuesday evening, the deadline Trump set for Iran to make a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, while claiming that negotiations with the Iranian side via intermediaries over the deal are “going well.” CRITICAL PERIOD
“The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump said at a press conference at the White House.
Asked about whether he’s winding down or escalating the war with Iran, Trump said, “I can’t tell you. Depends what they do.”
“This is a critical period,” said Trump of his Tuesday deadline. “They have a period of, well, until tomorrow at 8 (p.m.) o’clock.”
Trump also said at the press conference that his administration has a plan to strike and destroy bridges and power plants across Iran by midnight Tuesday.
The president said Monday that the 8 p.m. Eastern Time Tuesday deadline he has set for Iran is final. However, he had previously repeatedly changed the deadlines he had announced for a ceasefire deal or for reopening the strait.
Earlier on Monday, Trump told reporters at the White House Easter Egg Roll that he was “not worried about” whether the U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s power plants and other civil infrastructure could constitute a war crime.
Meanwhile, Trump said at the press conference that Iran is an “active, willing participant” in the negotiations over the deal, claiming the talks via intermediaries are “going well.”
“I can’t talk about ceasefire, but I can tell you that we have an active, willing participant on the other side. They would like to be able to make a deal. I can’t say any more than that,” Trump said. “Essentially they have till 8 p.m. tomorrow night, Eastern Time, but we are dealing with them. I think it’s going well,” said Trump, adding that his envoy Steve Witkoff and U.S. Vice President JD Vance are “involved in the dealing” of talks via intermediary countries.
Trump said earlier on Monday that his administration has reviewed a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire in the Iran war, describing it as a “very significant step” but “not good enough,” while Tehran rejected it.
Shortly after the United States and Israel launched massive attacks on Iran on Feb. 28, Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy waterway.
–NNN-Xinhua