Clock ticks on Trump’s Iran ultimatum with little sign of breakthrough

Clock ticks on Trump’s Iran ultimatum with little sign of breakthrough

President Donald Trump has imposed deadlines, articulated demands, and deployed threats in the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran. Yet, the clarity of his latest approach has been striking. Iran faces a new wave of strikes that could be highly destructive, set to begin at 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (00:00 GMT on Wednesday). Within four hours, the nation’s bridges and power plants are expected to be “decimated,” according to Trump. To prevent this, he insists on a deal “acceptable to me,” which must guarantee “unimpeded oil traffic” through the Strait of Hormuz.

Despite the escalating pressure, Iran has shown no immediate willingness to meet Trump’s conditions. They have declined a temporary ceasefire and presented their own list of demands, labeled “maximalist” by a US official. This puts Trump in a precarious position. If no agreement emerges, he may push the deadline further—this would be the fourth extension in three weeks. However, retracting from such emphatic threats risks undermining his authority as the conflict intensifies.

“We have an active, willing participant on the other side,” Trump stated. “They would like to be able to make a deal. I can’t say any more than that.”

Trump’s assertion of victory during Monday’s press conference highlighted his confidence. “They are militarily defeated,” he declared. “The only thing they have is the psychology of: ‘Oh, we’re going to drop a couple of mines in the water.'” This psychological edge—伊朗’s ability to deter oil tankers with drones, missiles, and mines—may be a more formidable asset than the US has acknowledged.

Military precision was a recurring theme in Trump’s remarks. He praised the flawless execution of last year’s “Midnight Hammer” operation targeting Iran’s nuclear facilities, the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro in January, and this weekend’s daring rescue of two downed airmen. Yet, these efforts were aimed at avoiding a “potential tragedy,” as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth noted. Even with success, the rescue underscored the persistent dangers American forces face in Iran.

Trump acknowledged the dilemma of military dominance. “We can bomb the hell out of them,” he said. “We can knock them for a loop. But to close the Strait, all you need is one terrorist.” While he expressed reluctance to follow through with bombing threats, the stakes remain high. Any damage inflicted now could take decades to repair, he warned. “Right now, if we leave today, it will take them 20 years to rebuild their country,” he added. “If I bomb them, it would take a century.”

With the deadline approaching, Trump’s uncertainty is evident. Though he claims “every single thing has been thought out by all of us,” he has yet to reveal specifics. This ambiguity may signal deeper progress in secret talks or simply a blend of strategic bluff and optimism. “They have till tomorrow,” he said. “We’ll see what happens. I believe they’re negotiating in good faith. I guess we’ll find out.”