Trump Warns Iran Could Be ‘Destroyed in One Night’ If No Deal Reached

U.S. President Donald Trump has repeatedly warned Iran, saying that if Tehran fails to reach a deal within the deadline he set to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the United States could destroy Iran in a single night.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critically important global energy route. Trump set the deadline for an “acceptable” agreement to ensure uninterrupted energy supplies at 8 p.m. Washington D.C. time on Tuesday (corresponding to early Wednesday morning, Nepali time).

Speaking at the White House, Trump expressed belief that Iran’s “reasonable” leaders were negotiating in good faith, but he said the outcome was still uncertain. Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal and insisted on ending the war permanently and lifting sanctions.

Also present at the press conference were Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman General Mark Milley and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and they discussed the recent safe rescue of two crew members from an F‑15 fighter jet downed in southern Iran.

Although Trump praised the daring U.S. rescue operation, he reiterated his warning that if the Strait of Hormuz remained closed, Iran’s energy and transport infrastructure could be attacked. He warned, “The whole country could be finished in one night, and that night could even be tomorrow night.”

Trump further warned that after the deadline, Iran could be reduced to a “stone age,” saying, “There will be no bridges, no power plants.”

Despite Iran’s rejection of U.S. demands, Trump expressed hope that negotiations with Iranian leaders might still move in a positive direction even after some leaders have been killed in U.S. or allied strikes.

However, a regional official told the BBC that a ceasefire is necessary before any meaningful progress can be made, adding that communications blackouts have made it difficult to exchange messages with Iranian officials and have complicated negotiations.

Pakistan, Turkey, and Egypt are attempting to mediate. Trump declined to give many details about future plans, saying only that he has “the best plan.”

Legal experts have warned that planned and sustained attacks on Iran’s infrastructure could constitute war crimes.

Earlier, Trump had said he was not “worried” about such possibilities and claimed that the Iranian people were ready to suffer for freedom, though he also stressed that regime change was not his goal. He also criticized U.S. allies like the U.K., NATO, and South Korea for insufficient support during the conflict.

According to U.S. Central Command, more than 13,000 strikes against Iran have occurred since the war began.