WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday issued a stark warning to Iran, saying “a whole civilization will die” if Tehran does not accept a peace deal.
Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. WHO KNOWS?”
He added that with “Complete and Total Regime Change,” smarter and less radicalized leadership in Iran could create a “revolutionarily wonderful” outcome.
Trump previously threatened that US forces could bomb Iranian bridges, power plants, and civilian infrastructure “into the stone age” unless Tehran agreed to end the war by Tuesday. He also warned of seizing Iranian oil if necessary.
Analyst Syed Muhammad Ali in Islamabad said the president’s words constitute a direct nuclear threat. “No conventional weapon can destroy a civilization on that scale. Strategic communities interpret this as a nuclear-level warning from a nuclear power,” Ali said.
The US has set a midnight GMT Tuesday deadline for Iran to lift its closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway for global oil shipments.
On Monday, Trump described a temporary ceasefire proposal as “very significant” and hinted negotiations would continue through Tuesday evening in Washington.
US Vice President JD Vance confirmed that Washington has “tools in our toolkit that we haven’t decided to use.” He expressed hope that diplomacy would prevent their deployment.
Vance said US military objectives are largely achieved but stressed that Iran must heed US demands. “The president can decide to use these tools if Iran does not change its course,” Vance said.
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The escalating rhetoric highlights the high stakes as international attention focuses on Tehran ahead of the self-imposed US deadline.
