Trump Threatens to Destroy Iran's Infrastructure if Strait of Hormuz Remains Blocked

US President Donald Trump issued a final ultimatum to Iran on Monday, April 6, 2026, threatening to destroy the country's entire energy and transport infrastructure unless Tehran agrees to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach a deal by 8:00 p.m. local time on Tuesday, April 7. Speaking at a White House press conference, Trump warned that Iran "could be eliminated in a single night, and that night could very well be tomorrow." The ultimatum marks an escalation in a conflict now in its 38th day, following five weeks of joint US-Israeli airstrikes against Iran. Trump stated he had already extended the deadline once and would not do so again. Oil prices continued to rise on Tuesday as the deadline approached, with Tehran showing no sign of compliance.

„The entire country can disappear in one night, and that night might be tomorrow.” — Donald Trump via Franceinfo

The US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, designated Operation Epic Fury, began on February 28, 2026. Ali Khamenei, Iran's longtime Supreme Leader, was killed in the initial strikes. His son, Mojtaba Khamenei, was appointed Supreme Leader on March 9, 2026. Iran subsequently blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a waterway through which a significant share of global oil supplies passes, triggering an ongoing standoff with Washington over the waterway's status.

Trump claims four hours enough to level Iran's infrastructure Trump told reporters that the United States military is capable of destroying all bridges and all power plants in Iran within four hours, a claim that drew immediate scrutiny. He framed the threatened strikes not as regime change but as a response to Iran's refusal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The president stated explicitly that regime change was never his objective, saying the sole aim was to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. „We cannot let Iran acquire nuclear weapons. There is a regime change, we are dealing with other people who are smarter, but we didn't do this for regime change.” — Donald Trump via Franceinfo Trump also described Iranians as "ready to suffer to have freedom" and to bring down what he called the regime of the Mullahs. He added that negotiations with Tehran were ongoing and that he believed Iran was engaging "in good faith," though he insisted the deadline would not move again. The White House press conference also included a section on the recent rescue of two US airmen recovered from deep inside Iranian territory in a commando operation, which Trump presented as evidence of US military capability.

Iran rejects ceasefire offer, promises devastating reprisals Iranian authorities rejected both Trump's ultimatum and a proposed ceasefire, with Tehran promising what it described as "even much more devastating" reprisals if the United States proceeds with strikes. Iranian officials gave no indication on Tuesday that they intended to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before the deadline expired. Tehran also threatened to increase attacks against energy infrastructure across the Gulf region in the event of further US military action. The Iranian position, as reported by Mediapart, amounted to turning "a deaf ear" to Washington's demands. The standoff left global energy markets on edge, with oil prices continuing to climb as the hours counted down toward the Tuesday evening deadline.

Trump accuses Kurds of diverting weapons meant for Iranian protesters On the sidelines of an Easter celebration at the White House, Trump made a separate and striking claim: that the United States had sent weapons to protesters inside Iran intended to help them fight against Iranian authorities, but that the weapons were diverted before reaching their intended recipients. Trump described his anger at "a certain group of people," warning they "are going to pay a high price." According to a report by 20minutes, Trump identified that group as the Kurds in a telephone conversation with a Fox News reporter on Sunday, whose account was then broadcast on air. The allegation, if accurate, would represent a significant covert operation conducted in parallel with the air campaign. Trump did not elaborate on the logistics of the alleged weapons transfer during his public remarks. The claim has not been independently verified.

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Operation Epic Fury has reshaped the regional security landscape in ways that extend well beyond the immediate military confrontation. The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran has sent oil prices sharply higher, with markets reacting to each new development in the standoff. La Libre.be reported that prices continued to climb on Tuesday as Trump's deadline neared, reflecting the waterway's central role in global energy supply. Tehran's threat to expand attacks against Gulf energy infrastructure added a further dimension of risk for oil-producing states in the region. With the deadline set to expire on Tuesday evening local time — still several hours away as of midday Warsaw time on April 7 — no confirmed breakthrough in negotiations had been reported.