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US President Donald Trump said yesterday he would lay waste to every bridge and power plant in Iran if it fails to bend to his demands, as he touted the high-risk operation that rescued two downed airmen.
Dismissing accusations that such a move would be a war crime, Trump told a White House press conference that “the entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.”
The president gave lengthy opening remarks on the recovery of two F-15 crew members recovered from behind enemy lines in Iran, which he compared to finding a “needle in a haystack.”
But Trump also doubled down on his threats of destruction before his self-imposed deadline for Tehran’s leaders that is due to expire today at 8pm (0000 GMT Wednesday)
Iran must make a deal that involves the “free traffic of oil” through the critical Strait of Hormuz or else there will be “complete demolition… and it’ll happen over a period of four hours,” he said.
“Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again.”
Trump added that he was considering a plan to charge a toll for oil passing through the Strait — echoing Iranian threats to do the same to the waterway through which one fifth of global crude passes.
The 79-year-old’s fresh warnings came just hours after he said during a White House Easter Egg roll that a proposal for a ceasefire with Iran was a “very significant step.”
“It’s not good enough, but it’s a very significant step,” Trump told reporters, under the gaze of First Lady Melania Trump and a mascot dressed as a giant Easter bunny.
