WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump warned Tuesday that “an entire civilization could die tonight” if Iran does not agree to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before an 8:00 pm Eastern Time deadline, in his latest escalation of rhetoric amid mounting tensions.
Trump’s remarks came as Washington pressed Tehran to restore shipping through the vital waterway, a key route for global oil supplies. International humanitarian law experts and officials have previously cautioned that threats targeting civilian infrastructure could raise concerns over potential war crimes.
Iran has so far rejected the demands. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned that if Trump follows through on his threats, it would “deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas from the region for years.”
Iranian officials also called on young people to form human chains to protect power plants and other critical infrastructure, amid fears of possible attacks.
The escalating standoff over the Strait of Hormuz — a chokepoint for a significant share of global energy shipments — has heightened concerns about broader regional instability and potential economic disruption.
