US President Donald Trump on Tuesday sharply escalated his rhetoric against Iran, warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” unless Tehran strikes a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, after fresh military strikes intensified fears of a wider regional war.
Trump’s threat came after overnight US strikes hit targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export terminal, according to reports citing a White House official, in a further sign that the conflict has moved beyond tit-for-tat attacks into direct blows against strategic economic infrastructure.
In a message posted on his Truth Social platform, Trump said catastrophic destruction could follow if Iran’s leadership failed to agree to terms set by Washington, including restoring shipping through the narrow Gulf waterway that handles a major share of global oil and gas flows. Reuters separately reported that Trump said “a whole civilization will die tonight” if no agreement was reached.
The US president has in recent days repeatedly demanded that Tehran end its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a choke point that has been largely closed since Iran retaliated against US and Israeli attacks launched earlier this year. The disruption has triggered one of the biggest energy supply shocks in years, sending oil prices sharply higher and rippling across transport, manufacturing and public finances worldwide.
Trump has portrayed Iran’s military as badly weakened but acknowledged that Tehran still retains decisive leverage through its control over access to the strait. That leverage has become central to the confrontation, with Washington trying to force a reopening while Iran appears determined to use the waterway as both a military and economic bargaining chip.
On Sunday, Trump had already signalled a dramatic hardening of his position, threatening to target Iran’s infrastructure if the strait remained blocked. Reuters reported that he warned Tehran the deadline to reopen the route would expire Tuesday night, with the White House and US intelligence assessments indicating little sign Iran was preparing to back down.
Iran has rejected outside pressure to relinquish control of the shipping lane without broader concessions, according to Reuters, including an end to US and Israeli attacks, sanctions relief and compensation. Tehran has also reportedly insisted on preserving some form of authority over maritime traffic through the passage, underlining how far apart the two sides remain even as military pressure mounts.
The deepening standoff has heightened alarm across global markets and capitals, particularly because around a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas trade normally transits through the strait. The closure has already redrawn fortunes among major energy exporters, with some producers benefiting from higher prices while others, especially those lacking alternative export routes, have suffered sharp revenue losses.
The fallout is increasingly being felt well beyond the Gulf. Airlines in Asia have begun cutting schedules and carrying additional fuel as supplies tighten, while governments from Europe to Africa are weighing emergency measures to absorb the shock from higher oil prices and disrupted trade flows.
Trump’s latest remarks are likely to deepen concerns that the crisis is entering a more dangerous phase, with the possibility of further attacks on energy, transport and civilian infrastructure. They also underscore how quickly the confrontation has evolved from a regional military conflict into a global economic emergency, with markets, supply chains and diplomatic channels all now hostage to whether Tehran and Washington can step back from the brink
