Washington: Donald Trump on Sunday appeared to push back his deadline for Iran to reach an agreement on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, warning of severe military action if no progress is made. In a brief social media post, he wrote: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”

Deadline extended by one day

The updated timeline, which corresponds to 0000 GMT on Wednesday, effectively delays the earlier ultimatum by a day. Trump has repeatedly warned that failure to comply could result in strikes targeting Iran’s power plants and bridges.

Earlier, the US president issued strongly worded threats, including the possibility of intensifying attacks on Iranian infrastructure, after American forces carried out a rescue mission to recover an aviator whose aircraft had been downed inside Iran.

Iran responds with counter measures

In response, Iran launched strikes against infrastructure in neighbouring Gulf Arab states. It also questioned the US account of the rescue operation and signalled the possibility of restricting another key maritime route, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

Trump’s warning on social media

In a separate message, Trump reiterated his stance, saying Iran would face severe consequences if the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial route for global trade, is not reopened by Tuesday. He warned that the country would be “living in Hell” and concluded the post with “Praise be to Allah.”

Pattern of shifting deadlines

Trump has issued similar ultimatums in the past, occasionally extending them when mediators indicated possible progress in resolving the conflict. The war, now in its sixth week, has resulted in thousands of deaths, disrupted global markets and driven up fuel prices.

Iranian reaction to Trump’s approach

Commenting on the situation, Iran’s Culture Minister Sayed Reza Salihi-Amiri told visiting journalists from the Associated Press in Tehran that Trump’s approach is difficult to interpret.

“It seems Trump has become a phenomenon that neither Iranians nor Americans are able to fully analyse,” he said, adding that the US president “constantly shifts between contradictory positions.”

Both sides in the conflict have targeted civilian infrastructure, including oil facilities and desalination plants that are essential for drinking water.

Iran’s mission to the United Nations described Trump’s latest warning as “clear evidence of intent to commit war crime” in a post on social media.

Warning of further escalation

Iran’s military joint command has cautioned that it would intensify retaliatory strikes on oil facilities and civilian infrastructure across the region if the United States and Israel continue such attacks, according to Iranian state television.

With agency inputs