President Donald Trump reaffirmed his commitment to authorize an unprecedented attack on Iranian civilian infrastructure on Sunday, telling Axios’ Barak Ravid in a phone call that he intends on “blowing up everything over there” if his demand is not met by Monday night.
Following U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February, Iranian officials blocked U.S.-aligned vessels from transiting the Strait of Hormuz, a critical shipping lane that carries roughly 20% of global oil trade. In mid-March, Trump threatened to bomb Iranian power plants if the waterway was not reopened within 48 hours, but twice extended the deadline, citing ongoing negotiations with Tehran that Iran denied were taking place.
Trump’s latest deadline is set to expire Monday night at 8 p.m. EST, and on Sunday, Trump vowed to make good on his threat were the Strait of Hormuz not opened by then.
“There is a good chance [we reach a deal with Iran], but if they don't make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there,” Trump told Axios Sunday morning. “The negotiations are going well, but you never get to the finish line with the Iranians.”
Last week, the United States military struck a major Iranian bridge, killing eight people and injuring 95. In his phone call with Ravid, Trump revealed that he had authorized the attack on the bridge out of frustrations over stalling negotiations.
“Then [Tehran] said they will meet us in five days,” Trump said. “So I said, 'Why five days?' I felt they were not being serious. So I attacked the bridge.”
According to two sources familiar with the alleged negotiations between the United States and Iran, speaking with Axios on the condition of anonymity, no breakthrough on a ceasefire deal had been achieved as of Saturday.