Trump threatens to take out Iran in one night if no deal before deadline

US President Donald Trump has issued a strong warning to Iran, stating he could "take out" the country "in one night" if they do not reach an agreement before his deadline. This deadline requires Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital energy passage for the world. Trump has set this deadline for 8:00 PM Washington DC time on Tuesday, which is midnight GMT on Wednesday. At a press conference at the White House, Trump expressed his belief that "reasonable" leaders in Iran were negotiating in "good faith," but he acknowledged that the result was still unclear. Iran has dismissed proposals for a temporary ceasefire, insisting instead on a permanent resolution to the conflict and the removal of sanctions. Trump held the news conference alongside General Dan Caine, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and defense secretary Pete Hegseth, just days after US forces managed to rescue two crew members from an F-15 fighter jet that went down in southern Iran. While he praised the "heroic" rescue, Trump reiterated his threat to strike Iran’s energy and transportation systems if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by the specified deadline. He warned, “The entire country can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night.” Once the deadline passes, Trump stated that Iran would be sent back to the "Stone Ages," declaring, "They’re going to have no bridges. They’re going to have no power plants." Despite Iran's previous refusals of US demands, Trump remained hopeful that Iran was engaged in serious negotiations, especially after various layers of Iranian leadership were eliminated in US and Israeli attacks.