US President Donald Trump has threatened that “a whole civilization will die tonight,” as his deadline for reaching a ceasefire agreement with Iran is coming to an end.
“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 on his Truth Social platform.
“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?
“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end,” he added.
Earlier, Trump threatened to bomb power stations and bridges across Iran if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and reach an agreement by Tuesday night at 8pm EDT (00.00 GMT Wednesday).
Meanwhile, Iran warned on Tuesday it could disrupt oil and gas supplies in the region “for years” if the US attacks the country’s civilian infrastructure.
In a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would retaliate beyond the region if what it called the “red lines” are crossed.
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“We will damage the infrastructure of America and its partners, which will deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years,” the IRGC threatened.
The force said Iran has so far exercised restraint in its responses, citing considerations related to good neighborliness.
“But all these considerations may now be canceled,” it added.
Pakistan said it still hopes for a “positive response” from Iran despite Tehran’s “insistence on preconditions” before US President Donald Trump’s deadline on the Strait of Hormuz hours from now, a senior government official told Anadolu on Tuesday.
“The situation has gotten extremely complex and sensitive as the next few hours are very crucial. We still hope that we will get a positive response from Tehran,” said the official on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter.
On Monday, official sources told Anadolu that Iran wants the US and Israeli forces to “immediately” halt their hostilities, particularly targeting top Iranian leadership, in addition to the unconditional withdrawal of Trump’s deadline.
Pakistan has positioned itself to mediate between the US and Iran, leveraging its good relations with both Washington and Tehran, and strategic and defense partnerships with China and Saudi Arabia.
Islamabad’s proposal, according to Pakistani sources, includes an immediate ceasefire and reopening the Strait of Hormuz within two to three weeks to finalize a broader settlement, and subsequent in-person talks in Islamabad.
Israeli airstrikes targeted 10 railway lines and bridges across Iran on Tuesday, hours after Israel threatened attacks on rail infrastructure across the country.
Army Radio claimed that the attacks targeted sites allegedly used to transport weapons and missile launch platforms.
Iranian media reported US-Israeli strikes on railway infrastructure in multiple areas of the country.
No information was yet available about casualties or damage.
The attacks came hours after the Israeli army warned Iranians not to travel by train and avoid train stations across the country.
Regional escalations have continued to rage since Israel and the US launched an offensive against Iran on Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iranian authorities have not updated the toll in recent days.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf countries hosting US military assets, causing casualties and damage to infrastructure while disrupting global markets and aviation.
