Trump’s Hormuz ultimatum nears – with little indication Iran is on board
Trump’s Hormuz ultimatum nears – with little indication Iran is on board
Over the past five weeks, President Donald Trump has imposed time limits and outlined requirements during the US-Israeli campaign against Iran. Yet the level of clarity in his demands has reached a new peak. The next series of attacks on Iran are expected to be catastrophic, set to begin at 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday (00:00 GMT on Wednesday). Within four hours, every bridge and power facility across the country could be “eliminated,” according to the president. “Very little is off-limits,” he stated on Monday, signaling that Iran must accept a “deal that satisfies me.” A key condition of this agreement would involve allowing “unrestricted oil movement” through the Strait of Hormuz. As the deadline approaches, there’s scant evidence Iran is prepared to accept Trump’s terms.
The ultimatum and its implications
Iran has dismissed a proposed pause in hostilities and presented its own list of conditions, characterized by a US official as “extreme.” This puts Trump in a precarious spot. Should no compromise emerge, he may extend his deadline for the fourth time in three weeks. However, retracting from such detailed threats, laced with strong language and dire forecasts, risks diminishing his authority as the conflict intensifies.
“We have an active, willing participant on the other side,” Trump said. “They would like to be able to make a deal. I can’t say any more than that.”
Despite showcasing American military prowess in this weekend’s operation to recover two captured airmen, Trump remains cautious about the broader consequences. “Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No,” he remarked. “Right now, if we leave today, it will take them 20 years to rebuild their country.” He added that a full-scale assault could prolong the recovery process for a century.
Military precision and strategic risks
During Monday’s press briefing, Trump highlighted the precision of recent operations, including the 2023 “Midnight Hammer” strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities and the January capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolas Maduro. The recent rescue mission, involving hundreds of aircraft and elite forces, was praised as a demonstration of American tactical skill. Yet, even with these successes, the operation aimed to prevent a “potential disaster” that could have followed.
“We have an active, willing participant on the other side,” Trump said. “They would like to be able to make a deal. I can’t say any more than that.”
The rescue mission also revealed the lingering dangers for US forces in Iran. “We can bomb the hell out of them,” Trump noted. “We can knock them for a loop. But to close the Strait, all you need is one terrorist.” This suggests that Iran’s ability to disrupt maritime traffic via drones, missiles, and mines might be a more formidable asset than previously recognized.
With the final hours passing, Trump continues to express cautious 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.” The president’s ambiguity, despite claiming “every single thing has been thought out by all of us,” adds to the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the standoff.
