Written By | Agencies
Trump has threatened to kill a whole civilisation unless Iran opens Straigh of Hormuz
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International Desk
US President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet a deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, marking the latest escalation in the ongoing conflict.
In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday, Trump said:
“A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”
He added that the United States had already achieved “complete and total regime change,” expressing hope that new leadership in Iran could usher in a different future.
The warning comes ahead of a deadline set for 20:00 EDT (00:00 GMT), by which Iran is expected to reopen the strategic waterway.
Series of shifting deadlines
Trump’s latest ultimatum follows a series of deadlines issued since March:
US strikes on Kharg Island
Meanwhile, a US official has confirmed that American forces carried out fresh strikes on military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, according to CBS News.
The official said oil infrastructure was not targeted in the overnight operation. Kharg Island hosts a major oil terminal considered vital to Iran’s economy.
US Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Budapest, said he was aware of plans to strike “military targets” on the island and believes the operation has been carried out.
He emphasised that the strikes do not represent a shift in US strategy, noting that Washington has already achieved its core military objectives.
“We have fundamentally completed our military goals,” Vance said, adding that the outcome of the conflict now depends on Iran’s response.
He outlined two possible paths:
Vance expressed hope that Iran would respond to US demands before the deadline.
Iran warns of wider retaliation
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) has warned that any escalation by the US would trigger a broader response beyond the region.
In a statement carried by state media, the IRGC said it had so far exercised restraint but would abandon that approach if “red lines” were crossed.
It warned that Iran could target US interests and disrupt regional oil and gas supplies.
Regional tensions rise
In a separate development, Iranian state media reported that a strike on a railway bridge in Kashan killed two people and injured three others. The claim has not been independently verified.
The report followed warnings from the Israeli military advising civilians in Iran to avoid train travel for safety reasons.
Meanwhile, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it had launched drone and missile strikes on a petrochemical complex in Saudi Arabia’s Jubail region in retaliation for earlier attacks on Iranian facilities. Reports indicate explosions and a fire at the site, though Saudi authorities have not confirmed the incident.
Analysis: High stakes, limited compromise
Security analysts say Trump’s strategy appears aimed at forcing Iran into negotiations through sustained military and economic pressure.
However, Iran has historically resisted ultimatums and may be unwilling to concede, particularly given the strategic importance of the Strait of Hormuz.
With both sides hardening positions, regional countries remain on high alert amid fears of a wider conflict.
Torch Media Africa
