US President Donald Trump has issued an expletive-laden warning to Iran, demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday night or facing the destruction of its power plants and bridges. In a post on his Truth Social website, Trump wrote: 'Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH!'
The threat marks the latest escalation in the five-week US-Israeli war against Iran. Trump has extended deadlines at least twice before, and the new deadline was clarified as 8:00 PM Eastern Time on Tuesday. Crude oil prices rose on Monday, with West Texas Intermediate climbing 1.86% to over $112 a barrel.
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, responded on social media, warning that Trump’s 'reckless moves' would drag the US into a 'living HELL' and that 'our whole region is going to burn'. He called for respecting the rights of the Iranian people and ending the 'dangerous game'.
The warning came after US commandos rescued a second crew member of a downed F-15E fighter in south-west Iran. Iran distributed images of aircraft wreckage but did not deny the rescue. Trump separately told Fox News there was a 'good chance' of a deal with Iran, while also threatening to 'blow everything up and take over the oil'.
International law experts have condemned the threats. Oona A Hathaway, a professor of international law at Yale University, said that targeting civilian infrastructure without lawful justification would constitute war crimes. 'Immiserating the civilian population for bargaining leverage is not lawful,' she said.
Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer also criticised Trump, calling his social media rant 'unhinged' and warning of possible war crimes. The war has already damaged about 81,000 civilian sites, including 61,000 homes, according to Iranian sources.
