Donald Trump has escalated tensions with Iran, issuing a stark ultimatum ahead of his Tuesday deadline and warning that a whole civilization could die tonight if a deal to halt the ongoing conflict is not reached.
In a post on Truth Social, the U.S. President intensified pressure on Tehran, framing the moment as a turning point with potentially catastrophic consequences.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump wrote.
He went further to suggest the possibility of sweeping political change in Iran, hinting at a post-crisis leadership shift.
“However, now that we have complete and total regime change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen,” he added. “We will find out tonight one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world.”
Trump also reiterated earlier threats to target Iranian civilian infrastructure if authorities fail to guarantee unhindered passage through the Strait of Hormuz by 20:00 EDT (01:00 BST Wednesday).
The high-stakes warning has raised fears of a sharp escalation, as global attention turns to whether diplomacy can avert a potentially devastating confrontation.
