U.S. President Donald Trump stepped up his rhetoric, waving large-scale strikes targeting power plants and bridges inside Iran hours before the 8 p.m. deadline expired on Tuesday.
Trump told a White House news conference that Iran could be "wiped out overnight," stressing that all bridges and power plants would be "reduced to rubble" if Tehran did not agree to a deal that would end the war and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite warnings that targeting civilian infrastructure is war crimes, Trump dismissed those criticisms, saying that "the real war crime is to have a nuclear weapon."
Trump: I want Iranian oil... I'm a businessman.
In one of his most controversial statements, Trump linked the ceasefire agreement to the free movement of oil through the Strait of Hormuz, saying he wanted oil to be part of the agreement, adding remarkably clearly: "I want to get Iranian oil... I'm a businessman."
This statement was seen by analysts, research centers and strategic studies as a reflection of the economic dimension in the US administration's calculations, as it reveals that Washington does not see the opening of the strait as just a step to reduce tension, but rather as an opportunity to reshape the global energy market to serve its interests.
Iran rejects temporary truce
Tehran informed Pakistan of its official response to the US proposal, stressing that it would not accept a temporary ceasefire, but rather sought a comprehensive end to the conflict.
Iran's response included ten items, including the lifting of sanctions, reconstruction and the establishment of a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, stressing that its demands "are not a concession but an expression of its confidence in its ability to defend its positions."
Israel strikes petrochemicals
The past hours witnessed a major escalation, as Israel announced the targeting of the largest petrochemical plants in Assaluyeh in southern Iran, which led to a power outage in the "Mobin" and "Damavand" complexes, and Iran responded with intensive missile attacks on Tel Aviv and central Israel, in conjunction with attacks from Lebanon and Yemen, while huge explosions resounded in "Greater Tel Aviv" and occupied Jerusalem.
In a new toll reported by intelligence reports, the number of Israelis killed by Iranian attacks rose to 23, while other reports spoke of more than 3,500 people killed in Iran since the war began, in addition to 1,500 in Lebanon and 13 U.S. soldiers.
Global economic repercussions
The war continues to put pressure on global markets, as the price of Brent crude rose to $110 per barrel, amid fears that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz will affect energy supplies, and concern within the Republican Party about the impact of the war on the midterm elections.
A defining moment before the deadline
As 8 p.m. ET approaches Tuesday, the world is at a crossroads: either a sudden political breakthrough, or the implementation of Trump's threats that could push Iran into the "Stone Age," as he put it, and open the door to one of the heaviest military strikes in the region's history.