By Enyichukwu Enemanna
US President Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to have extended his deadline for Iran to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating infrastructure attacks.
“Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” he simply wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The new deadline, 0000 GMT Wednesday, would mean another day for Tehran to attempt to placate the US leader or risk attacks on its power plants and bridges, following Trump’s attacks.
Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane, a vital route for the world’s oil and gas, since the beginning of the US-Israeli bombing campaign on February 28.
Trump, who has held no public events since an address to the nation on Wednesday, seemed to confirm the new timing in an interview with The Wall Street Journal.
“We are in a position that’s very strong, and that country will take 20 years to rebuild, if they’re lucky, if they have a country,” he told the Journal Sunday.
“And if they don’t do something by Tuesday evening, they won’t have any power plants and they won’t have any bridges standing.”
The US President did a string of short interviews with media outlets after he announced the dramatic rescue of a US airman and issued an expletive-laden ultimatum to the Islamic republic to free up the strategic waterway or risk a fierce US attack.
He told Fox News he believes there is a “good chance” of making a deal with Iran on Monday.
“I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now,” Trump said.
“If they don’t make a deal and fast, I’m considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil,” he added.
