President Donald Trump issued a dire warning on Truth Social on Tuesday morning, threatening the destruction of “an entire civilization” if Iran fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by the 8 p.m. deadline.
“Tuesday night may well be one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World,” Trump wrote. He added, “A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. 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?”
The warnings follow suggestions from Trump that U.S. strikes could target bridges, desalination plants, and energy infrastructure in Iran, including facilities that provide power for civilian populations. Pentagon planners are reportedly revising target lists to minimize potential violations of international law while still hitting strategic energy sites.
Iran had effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz—a critical waterway handling roughly 20 percent of global oil shipments—after joint U.S.-Israeli strikes began in February. Trump is tying the end of hostilities to the reopening of the strait.
The escalation adds to growing international concerns over potential civilian casualties and regional instability.
