Iran defiant as Trump’s ceasefire deadline nears
Why it matters: Trump's deadline at 8 p.m. in Washington could trigger massive attacks on Iran's civilian infrastructure.
- Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire proposal and demands an end to U.S. and Israeli strikes, a guarantee they won't resume, and compensation for damages before peace talks, according to a senior Iranian source.
- U.S. President Donald Trump has given Iran until 8 p.m. in Washington (midnight GMT) to end its blockade of Gulf oil, threatening to destroy Iranian infrastructure and stating he is "not at all" concerned about committing possible war crimes, as reported by The Associated Press.
- Iran threatens to retaliate against infrastructure belonging to U.S. allies in the Gulf if Trump follows through on his threats.
- A synagogue in Tehran was destroyed overnight in what Iran described as Israeli air strikes, with Homayoun Sameh of Iran's Jewish community condemning the attack and Israel's military offering no immediate comment.
- Israel issued a warning to Iranians via social media to stay away from railways, threatening civil infrastructure even before Trump's deadline.
- Iranian residents, like Shima from Isfahan, hope Trump's threats are a bluff, expressing a desire for government change but not the destruction of their country's infrastructure, according to Reuters.
As President Trump's deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz or face "massive attacks" on its civilian infrastructure rapidly approaches, Iran remains defiant, rejecting a temporary ceasefire proposal and insisting on control of the strait and compensation for damages before any lasting peace talks. Global markets are frozen, unsure if Trump will follow through on his threats, which include destroying Iranian bridges and power plants within four hours, while Iran threatens retaliation against U.S. allies in the Gulf.
