US President Donald Trump is holding firm on his Tuesday 8 pm (Eastern Time) deadline and has said the United States military is ready to carry out heavy strikes against Iran if his ultimatum is not met.
American broadcaster Fox News reported that Trump made the remarks during a phone interview with anchor Bret Baier, saying “8 p.m. is happening”.
In the call, Trump declined to speculate on the chances of a negotiated deal with Iran but made it clear that the deadline would stand. He indicated that plans tied to the deadline were moving forward, even as the possibility of a diplomatic breakthrough remained open.
Trump warned that if the deadline passes without progress, the United States would carry out an unprecedented strike. He said the administration is proceeding with its existing plans, but added that a concrete breakthrough in negotiations could still alter the course.
“If we get to that point, there is going to be an attack like they have not seen,” Trump was quoted as saying.
The White House said Trump alone would decide the next steps. “The Iranian regime has until 8 pm Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States,” Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement to AFP, when asked about potential military options and reports that Iran had cut off negotiations.
“Only the President knows where things stand and what he will do,” she added.
Earlier on Tuesday, Trump issued one of his starkest warnings of the conflict.
“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 on Truth Social.
He did not provide specifics, but has previously said the US military could target Iran’s bridges, power plants and other civilian infrastructure.
Trump has set a deadline of midnight GMT Tuesday for Iran to end its de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a key global shipping route for oil and other commodities.
