Trump Sets Final Tuesday Deadline for Iran to Open Strait of Hormuz

President Donald Trump has issued a stark ultimatum to Tehran, warning that the United States will “blow up the entire country” if a peace deal is not reached within 48 hours. The threat comes as the U.S.-Israel conflict with Iran enters its sixth week, with the administration demanding the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping.

The president specified a hard deadline of Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time. In a series of communications, including posts on Truth Social, Trump renewed profane demands to open the strait, referring to Iranian leadership as “crazy bastards” and suggesting that failure to comply would result in “all Hell” reigning down upon them. This development underscores the rapidly escalating regional tensions as the U.S. Threatens major strikes against Iranian bridges and energy infrastructure.

The current crisis follows a pattern of shifting deadlines. On March 21, Trump initially gave Iran 48 hours to open the strait or face the obliteration of its power plants. After extending a five-day deadline to Monday, the president has now set the specific timing of the ultimatum for Tuesday evening. Such threats to target critical civilian infrastructure have raised concerns among legal experts, as these actions could be classified as war crimes under international law.

Military activity has intensified on the ground. On April 5, 2026, Iranian state media reported that airstrikes hit the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran. The strikes targeted a gas station near the campus, resulting in a temporary gas outage in the Sharif neighborhood. These attacks are part of “major combat operations” that began on February 28, involving joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on government and military sites.

The weekend similarly saw a high-stakes rescue operation. A U.S. Service member, whose fighter jet was shot down over Iran, managed to evade capture for more than a day by scaling rugged terrain. A massive effort involving the CIA and special operations forces successfully rescued the airman, whom President Trump described as “seriously wounded.” However, the operation came at a cost; officials confirmed that two C-130 aircraft were destroyed during the mission.

Tehran has remained defiant, with senior officials stating the Strait of Hormuz will remain blocked until Iran is compensated for war damages. Sayed Reza Salihi-Amiri, Iran’s minister of cultural affairs and tourism, dismissed the U.S. President as an “unstable, delusional figure marked by a set of contradictions.” Such rhetoric mirrors how critics have described Trump’s behavior as that of a mentally unstable person.

Domestically, the administration is facing criticism from within the U.S. Government. Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) called the administration’s rhetoric “embarrassing and juvenile,” arguing that the president has “blundered into a war with no clear rationale” and lacks a cohesive plan. He urged the president to “dial back the rhetoric” following the downing of the U.S. Jet.

As the Tuesday deadline approaches, the global economy remains volatile. The threat of bombing Iran and seizing oil, combined with the continued blockade of the world’s most critical oil chokepoint, continues to destabilize international markets.

Further contributing to the tension are warnings that Iran would ‘burn in hell’ if it does not comply. President Trump is scheduled to hold a White House news conference at 1 p.m. ET on Monday, April 6, to provide further details on the rescue operation and the current military posture.