Trump's ultimatum: If the Strait of Hormuz isn't opened by Tuesday, Iran's power plants and bridges will enter "hell mode."
2026-04-06 09:43:20
US President Donald Trump posted several strongly worded messages on social media on Sunday (April 5), issuing a stern warning to Iran. He stated unequivocally that if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully open to all maritime traffic by Tuesday (April 7), Iran's power plants and bridges will suffer devastating damage, and those he called "crazy bastards" will be plunged into utter "hell."
These statements came as the U.S. military had just successfully completed a high-risk rescue operation, bringing the last pilot shot down in Iran the previous week back into the air, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Tuesday would be Iran's "Power Plant Day" and "Bridge Day," coinciding with an unprecedented strike. He later posted again, simply noting "Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET" without further explanation, but the White House quickly confirmed that this time had become the final deadline for Iran to reach an agreement with the United States.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to destroy Iran's critical infrastructure, even vowing to send Iran back to the "Stone Age" if it does not meet US demands. At this point, the US-Iran conflict has entered its second month, and the tense situation in the Middle East shows no signs of abating.
Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine expressed strong disapproval of the president's remarks. He called them "embarrassing and childish" and warned that such a hardline stance could put U.S. pilots at greater risk should they be captured in Iran in the future. Kaine added, "If you're sending the message that there will be no forgiveness, that really encourages them to mistreat our people."
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kane further pointed out that the war exposed a clear lack of planning by the government, with neither a clear strategic rationale nor an active effort to win over allies. He believes this was merely a superficial attempt by some to project a tough stance.
Despite pressure from the United States, Iran has shown no signs of backing down and has instead continued to strike economic and infrastructure targets in neighboring Gulf Arab countries.
On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast a video showing what appeared to be the wreckage of a U.S. plane shot down by Iranian forces, accompanied by images of a plume of black smoke rising into the sky. The television station reported that Iran shot down a U.S. transport plane and two helicopters during a rescue operation.
However, according to a regional intelligence official familiar with the mission, the U.S. military deliberately destroyed two transport planes due to technical malfunctions, and subsequently deployed more aircraft to complete the rescue. The official requested anonymity due to the covert nature of the operation.
The Iranian Joint Command announced via state television that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the rescue operation, and warned that if the U.S. and Israel continue to attack Iranian civilian facilities, Iran will retaliate against regional oil facilities and civilian infrastructure. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted a spokesperson as saying, "We reiterate that if you launch another aggression and attack civilian facilities, our response will be even stronger."
President Trump confirmed on Sunday that the United States had successfully rescued a pilot who went missing after his F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down. The pilot was rescued shortly after the plane crashed.
Trump excitedly wrote on Truth Social, “We’ve got him!” He further described it as, “Over the last few hours, the U.S. military has completed one of the most heroic search and rescue operations in American history.” Trump added that the rescued officer was seriously injured, stating, “We have brought out this seriously injured, very brave F-15 crew member/officer from the deep mountains of Iran. He is a highly respected colonel.”
Trump also explained that the government did not immediately release information about the rescue of the first crew member in order to avoid jeopardizing the entire operation.
He announced that he would hold a press conference at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday in the Oval Office of the White House to provide details of the military operation in Iran. U.S. Central Command subsequently issued a brief statement confirming: "Following the downing of an F-15E fighter jet during an operational mission on April 2, the U.S. military successfully completed the rescue operation of two U.S. service members from Iran. The two service members were safely rescued during separate search and rescue missions." Central Command also stated that the strikes against Iran will continue, with the goal of dismantling the Iranian regime's ability to project power abroad.
Both Tehran and Washington have confirmed that Iran shot down the two-seat F-15E fighter jet on Saturday, marking the first time Iranian forces have successfully shot down a U.S. combat aircraft since the U.S.-Israel airstrikes against Iran began on February 28. In addition, two U.S. officials revealed that the pilot of an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft successfully ejected before crashing in Kuwait, after being hit by Iranian fire.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to pressure Tehran to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is a crucial choke point connecting Iran to the Arabian Peninsula, through which a large volume of global oil and gas supplies pass.
Trump posted a reminder on Truth Social on Saturday: "Remember when I gave Iran 10 days to reach a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz? Time is almost up. In 48 hours, hell will be on their heads."
Oman's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it had held talks with Iranian officials the previous day to discuss possible solutions to ensure smooth navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts from both sides put forward a series of visions and proposals during the talks, which will be further studied. On March 26, at the request of the Iranian government, Trump extended the suspension of strikes against Iranian energy facilities for another 10 days, until April 6. On Wednesday, in a televised address from the White House, Trump told the American people that he expected the conflict to continue for another two to three weeks, but that it was nearing its end. He emphasized, "We will get this job done, and we will do it very quickly."
Brent crude oil spot prices surged to $141.36 on Thursday, the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, due to supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This spot price reflects demand for crude oil delivery over the next 10 to 30 days, indicating a severe shortage in physical oil supply. In contrast, the June Brent crude oil futures contract closed at $109.03 on Thursday, $32.33 higher than the spot price.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on the X platform, stating that Iran is open in principle to peace talks with the United States and appreciates Pakistan's mediation efforts. However, he made it clear: "We are deeply grateful for Pakistan's efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about is how to end this illegal war imposed on us thoroughly and lastingly."
Pakistan told the Associated Press that efforts to achieve a ceasefire were "progressing well."
Despite continued pressure from the United States and Israel, Iran has maintained its retaliatory strikes in the Gulf region, with a focus shifting to petrochemical facilities.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported on the X platform that multiple fires occurred at the Borouge petrochemical plant in the city, caused by debris falling after being intercepted by an air defense system. The plant's operations have been completely suspended. The company's main production base is a petrochemical complex located in the Ruwais Industrial City of the United Arab Emirates.
Bahrain's national news agency reported that Gulf Petrochemical Industries (GPIC) confirmed that several of its operating units were attacked by Iranian drones early Sunday morning.
Kuwait also suffered heavy damage: Iranian drone attacks severely damaged power plants, petrochemical plants, and desalination stations, forcing some generators to shut down. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) reported fires and significant material losses at its subsidiaries, the Petrochemical Industries Company and the National Oil Company. Additionally, the Shuweh Petroleum Sector Complex, which houses the Ministry of Petroleum and KPC headquarters, also caught fire due to the drone attacks. A government ministry office building was also hit, but fortunately, there were no casualties. No injuries were reported in any of the attacks.
On Saturday, an airstrike hit a petrochemical area in southwestern Iran, injuring at least five people. Auxiliary buildings near the Bushehr nuclear power plant were also hit by projectiles, killing one person, but the plant's operations were unaffected. Russia's state nuclear energy company, Rosatom, had already planned and evacuated 198 workers from the site. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced a large-scale strike against Tehran.
These statements came as the U.S. military had just successfully completed a high-risk rescue operation, bringing the last pilot shot down in Iran the previous week back into the air, further escalating tensions in the Middle East.
Trump posts consecutive messages setting Tuesday as the deadline
Trump wrote on Truth Social that Tuesday would be Iran's "Power Plant Day" and "Bridge Day," coinciding with an unprecedented strike. He later posted again, simply noting "Tuesday at 8:00 p.m. ET" without further explanation, but the White House quickly confirmed that this time had become the final deadline for Iran to reach an agreement with the United States.
Trump has repeatedly threatened to destroy Iran's critical infrastructure, even vowing to send Iran back to the "Stone Age" if it does not meet US demands. At this point, the US-Iran conflict has entered its second month, and the tense situation in the Middle East shows no signs of abating.
Virginia Democratic Senator Tim Kaine expressed strong disapproval of the president's remarks. He called them "embarrassing and childish" and warned that such a hardline stance could put U.S. pilots at greater risk should they be captured in Iran in the future. Kaine added, "If you're sending the message that there will be no forgiveness, that really encourages them to mistreat our people."
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Kane further pointed out that the war exposed a clear lack of planning by the government, with neither a clear strategic rationale nor an active effort to win over allies. He believes this was merely a superficial attempt by some to project a tough stance.
Iran responded strongly, claiming to have shot down several US aircraft.
Despite pressure from the United States, Iran has shown no signs of backing down and has instead continued to strike economic and infrastructure targets in neighboring Gulf Arab countries.
On Sunday, Iranian state television broadcast a video showing what appeared to be the wreckage of a U.S. plane shot down by Iranian forces, accompanied by images of a plume of black smoke rising into the sky. The television station reported that Iran shot down a U.S. transport plane and two helicopters during a rescue operation.
However, according to a regional intelligence official familiar with the mission, the U.S. military deliberately destroyed two transport planes due to technical malfunctions, and subsequently deployed more aircraft to complete the rescue. The official requested anonymity due to the covert nature of the operation.
The Iranian Joint Command announced via state television that four U.S. aircraft were destroyed during the rescue operation, and warned that if the U.S. and Israel continue to attack Iranian civilian facilities, Iran will retaliate against regional oil facilities and civilian infrastructure. The Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) quoted a spokesperson as saying, "We reiterate that if you launch another aggression and attack civilian facilities, our response will be even stronger."
The US military successfully completed a high-difficulty rescue operation, which Trump personally announced as a success.
President Trump confirmed on Sunday that the United States had successfully rescued a pilot who went missing after his F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet was shot down. The pilot was rescued shortly after the plane crashed.
Trump excitedly wrote on Truth Social, “We’ve got him!” He further described it as, “Over the last few hours, the U.S. military has completed one of the most heroic search and rescue operations in American history.” Trump added that the rescued officer was seriously injured, stating, “We have brought out this seriously injured, very brave F-15 crew member/officer from the deep mountains of Iran. He is a highly respected colonel.”
Trump also explained that the government did not immediately release information about the rescue of the first crew member in order to avoid jeopardizing the entire operation.
He announced that he would hold a press conference at 1 p.m. Eastern Time on Monday in the Oval Office of the White House to provide details of the military operation in Iran. U.S. Central Command subsequently issued a brief statement confirming: "Following the downing of an F-15E fighter jet during an operational mission on April 2, the U.S. military successfully completed the rescue operation of two U.S. service members from Iran. The two service members were safely rescued during separate search and rescue missions." Central Command also stated that the strikes against Iran will continue, with the goal of dismantling the Iranian regime's ability to project power abroad.
Both Tehran and Washington have confirmed that Iran shot down the two-seat F-15E fighter jet on Saturday, marking the first time Iranian forces have successfully shot down a U.S. combat aircraft since the U.S.-Israel airstrikes against Iran began on February 28. In addition, two U.S. officials revealed that the pilot of an A-10 Warthog attack aircraft successfully ejected before crashing in Kuwait, after being hit by Iranian fire.
The Strait of Hormuz crisis continues, causing Brent crude oil prices to surge.
Meanwhile, the United States continues to pressure Tehran to immediately open the Strait of Hormuz. This strait is a crucial choke point connecting Iran to the Arabian Peninsula, through which a large volume of global oil and gas supplies pass.
Trump posted a reminder on Truth Social on Saturday: "Remember when I gave Iran 10 days to reach a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz? Time is almost up. In 48 hours, hell will be on their heads."
Oman's Foreign Ministry announced on Sunday that it had held talks with Iranian officials the previous day to discuss possible solutions to ensure smooth navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Experts from both sides put forward a series of visions and proposals during the talks, which will be further studied. On March 26, at the request of the Iranian government, Trump extended the suspension of strikes against Iranian energy facilities for another 10 days, until April 6. On Wednesday, in a televised address from the White House, Trump told the American people that he expected the conflict to continue for another two to three weeks, but that it was nearing its end. He emphasized, "We will get this job done, and we will do it very quickly."
Brent crude oil spot prices surged to $141.36 on Thursday, the highest level since the 2008 financial crisis, due to supply disruptions caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. This spot price reflects demand for crude oil delivery over the next 10 to 30 days, indicating a severe shortage in physical oil supply. In contrast, the June Brent crude oil futures contract closed at $109.03 on Thursday, $32.33 higher than the spot price.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded on the X platform, stating that Iran is open in principle to peace talks with the United States and appreciates Pakistan's mediation efforts. However, he made it clear: "We are deeply grateful for Pakistan's efforts and have never refused to go to Islamabad. What we care about is how to end this illegal war imposed on us thoroughly and lastingly."
Pakistan told the Associated Press that efforts to achieve a ceasefire were "progressing well."
The conflict over petrochemical facilities in several Gulf states, triggered by Iranian retaliation, has entered its sixth week.
Despite continued pressure from the United States and Israel, Iran has maintained its retaliatory strikes in the Gulf region, with a focus shifting to petrochemical facilities.
The Abu Dhabi Media Office reported on the X platform that multiple fires occurred at the Borouge petrochemical plant in the city, caused by debris falling after being intercepted by an air defense system. The plant's operations have been completely suspended. The company's main production base is a petrochemical complex located in the Ruwais Industrial City of the United Arab Emirates.
Bahrain's national news agency reported that Gulf Petrochemical Industries (GPIC) confirmed that several of its operating units were attacked by Iranian drones early Sunday morning.
Kuwait also suffered heavy damage: Iranian drone attacks severely damaged power plants, petrochemical plants, and desalination stations, forcing some generators to shut down. The Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) reported fires and significant material losses at its subsidiaries, the Petrochemical Industries Company and the National Oil Company. Additionally, the Shuweh Petroleum Sector Complex, which houses the Ministry of Petroleum and KPC headquarters, also caught fire due to the drone attacks. A government ministry office building was also hit, but fortunately, there were no casualties. No injuries were reported in any of the attacks.
On Saturday, an airstrike hit a petrochemical area in southwestern Iran, injuring at least five people. Auxiliary buildings near the Bushehr nuclear power plant were also hit by projectiles, killing one person, but the plant's operations were unaffected. Russia's state nuclear energy company, Rosatom, had already planned and evacuated 198 workers from the site. Meanwhile, the Israeli military announced a large-scale strike against Tehran.
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