U.S. President Donald Trump issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding it open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday or face potential attacks on infrastructure.
Trump Issues Iran Ultimatum
President Trump confirmed Monday that the deadline for Iran to reach an agreement is Tuesday. He previously threatened that if Iran does not open the Strait of Hormuz by then, it will lose all its power plants and bridges.
“They won’t have bridges, they won’t have power plants, they won’t have anything. I’m not going to get into it because there are other things that are much worse than those two,” he said during an Easter event at the White House.
F-15 Pilot Injuries and Potential for Conflict
Trump confirmed that both crew members of the U.S. F-15 fighter jet shot down over Iran on Friday are injured and recovering. He also stated that the Iranians were “lucky” to have downed the aircraft.
He suggested a war could end quickly if Iran “did what they have to do,” adding that negotiations are underway and a “total change of regime” has occurred in Iran, with current leaders being more reasonable than their predecessors.
Weapons Delivery and Iran’s Nuclear Ambitions
Trump revealed he saw a proposed ceasefire but deemed it insufficient, calling it an important step. He also stated that Americans previously delivered weapons to Iranian protesters through “certain groups,” but the weapons were intercepted.
Trump claimed that if armed, Iranian people would confront authorities in Tehran. He asserted that the U.S. had “obliterated” a very powerful country in 45 days, leading Iran to seek a ceasefire.
“Allowing Iran to have a nuclear weapon is a war crime,” Trump stated, dismissing concerns about potential war crimes related to attacks on Iranian infrastructure by saying, “Because they are animals.”
Criticism of NATO and Easter Event Remarks
The President reiterated his criticism of NATO, stating it has not lived up to expectations and “should be ashamed.” When asked about withdrawing from the alliance, he responded, “You’ll see.”
Trump spoke to reporters after the traditional Easter Egg Roll event at the White House, emphasizing the importance of the day for religious observance. He also touted the success of his administration, citing record-breaking economic and military achievements.
Upcoming Press Conference
Trump is scheduled to hold a press conference at 1 p.m. (7 p.m. in Poland) regarding the situation with Iran.