Trump Issues Ultimatum to Iran, Dismisses War Crimes Fears
US President Donald Trump has declared he is "not at all" concerned about committing possible war crimes as he threatened to decimate Iran's bridges and power plants if Tehran does not meet his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. In a news conference at the White House on Monday, Trump asserted, "The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night." He has set Tuesday at 8pm Washington time as his final deadline for Iran to make a deal before US strikes begin, though this follows at least four prior deadlines, raising questions about the credibility of his latest threat.
Bizarre Claims and Escalating Conflict
In a bizarre rant during the White House Easter Egg Roll, Trump claimed Iranians "want to hear bombs because they want to be free," standing next to the Easter Bunny. He also alleged Iran has killed 45,000 of its own protesters, a figure that remains unverified. Meanwhile, Iran has rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, demanding a permanent end to the conflict. Airstrikes from both sides continued into Tuesday, with Iran accusing Israeli and US strikes of flattening a synagogue in Tehran, a site in a community home to up to 15,000 Jews.
Regional Attacks and International Response
The conflict has spilled beyond Iran's borders, with a drone strike from Iran killing two people in the Kurdish region of Iraq, hitting a home in Zargazawi village. Iranian forces also targeted northern Kurdistan with drones, rockets, and missiles. In Saudi Arabia, fires erupted at the Al Jubail industrial city after Iranian missile and drone strikes on petrochemical facilities. The United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Bahrain's draft resolution to protect commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively closed, carrying about a fifth of the world's oil.
Human and Economic Toll
A Filipino woman was killed in a missile attack in Haifa, Israel, marking another casualty in the war, with about 30,000 Filipinos living in Israel. Globally, oil prices hovered near $110 per barrel, with Brent crude at $110.19 and US West Texas Intermediate at $113.31, as investors grew nervous over escalation risks. Prediction markets like Polymarket indicate a 100% chance of US forces entering Iran by month's end, reflecting heightened tensions.
Daring Rescue Mission and Ongoing Threats
In a recent development, US special forces conducted a 36-hour mission to rescue an airman stranded 200 miles behind enemy lines in Iran's mountains after an F-15E jet was shot down. Trump praised the operation, highlighting the risks as enemies closed in. As the deadline approaches, Trump's threats and Iran's defiance suggest no immediate resolution, with the potential for further destruction and international repercussions looming large.
