Trump Threatens Iran Infrastructure Destruction Over Strait of Hormuz Closure

U.S. President Donald Trump set a deadline of Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to destroy Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran does not comply. Trump told the Wall Street Journal that if Iran failed to act, "they won't have any power plants and they won't have any bridges standing." He reinforced the warning with a post on his Truth Social platform, writing "Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!" and separately posting an expletive-laden message demanding Iran open the waterway or "be living in Hell." The ultimatum came after U.S. special forces successfully rescued an American airman from deep inside Iran, an operation Trump praised publicly. A U.S. administration official told the Wall Street Journal that the rescue had galvanized the president, pushing him to exert greater pressure on Tehran. The conflict, which began on February 28, 2026, entered its 38th day on Monday with no sign of de-escalation.

Iran strikes Gulf neighbors as ceasefire talks quietly advance Iran responded to the mounting pressure by expanding its attacks across the region, launching missile and drone strikes against Israel, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates on Monday, April 6. In Kuwait, drones sparked fires and caused what Iranian state media described as "severe material damage" at petrochemical plants. The Revolutionary Guards also claimed a strike on an Israeli-linked vessel at Dubai's Jebel Ali port. On the Israeli side, the army announced a new series of strikes against Tehran, including one that targeted a university and damaged a nearby gas facility, cutting gas supply to parts of the Iranian capital, according to Iranian state television. A U.S.-Israeli strike on a residential building south of Tehran reportedly killed at least 13 people, according to an official cited by Iranian state media — a claim Reuters was unable to independently verify. At the same time, Axios reported that the United States, Iran, and regional mediators were discussing terms of a potential 45-day ceasefire that could lead to a permanent end to the war, citing four U.S., Israeli, and regional sources familiar with the talks. Officials cautioned, however, that the chances of reaching a partial agreement within 48 hours were low.

„Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu's commands” — Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf via Reuters

Trump signals deal possible even as threats escalate Despite the bellicose rhetoric, Trump sent mixed signals about his intentions, telling Fox News on Sunday that Iran was negotiating and that a deal was possible by Monday. The Wall Street Journal interview in which he set the Tuesday deadline also included an eight-minute exchange in which Trump said Iran would lose "all their power plants and every other facility they have throughout the country" if it refused to reopen the strait. Critics, including the New York Times, noted that targeting power plants, desalination stations, oil wells, roads, and bridges — described as "the basics of civilian life in Iran" — would be considered a war crime under international law. Trump also scheduled a White House press conference for Monday at 1:00 p.m. Washington time, a format he rarely uses, where he was expected to address the rescue of the American airman. The Axios report described the potential ceasefire as a two-phased deal: a 45-day pause in hostilities followed by negotiations toward a permanent end to the war. The outlet emphasized that the last-minute diplomatic effort represented "the only chance to avoid a dramatic escalation," which could include massive strikes on Iranian civilian infrastructure and retaliatory attacks on Gulf energy and water facilities.

The U.S.-Israeli military campaign against Iran, known as Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026, with strikes that killed then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran subsequently appointed Mojtaba Khamenei, son of Ali Khamenei, as Supreme Leader in March 2026. Tehran responded by effectively closing the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway that handles roughly a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas supply, triggering a global energy crisis. The conflict has caused thousands of deaths and shaken global financial markets over the course of more than five weeks of sustained strikes and counterstrikes.

Oil prices near $110 as markets absorb war risk Global energy markets reflected the deepening crisis, with both Brent crude and WTI trading around the symbolic threshold of $110 per barrel on Monday as markets returned from a three-day Easter break. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly a fifth of the world's oil and natural gas passes, has been a primary driver of the price surge. A decision by Russia, Saudi Arabia, and six other members of OPEC+ to increase their production quotas provided limited reassurance to markets. Iran's military spokesperson warned that if attacks on civilian targets continued, "the next phases of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and extensive," adding that "losses and damage will be increased tenfold." The Iranian parliament speaker accused Trump of following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's orders, a charge that echoed through diplomatic channels as mediators scrambled to broker a pause in hostilities before the Tuesday evening deadline.

110 (USD per barrel) — Brent and WTI oil price amid Hormuz closure

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