As the deadline for Iran's peace deal looms, Donald Trump has issued a lethal threat against the nation's civilians.
The US leader warned Iranian government leaders on Sunday (5 Apr) that they must 'make a deal that's acceptable to me' regarding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz by 8pm Washington time on Tuesday.
"Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the f**king Strait, you crazy b*******, or you'll be living in Hell - JUST WATCH!" he tweeted at the time.
During a press conference on Monday, Trump went on to claim: "We have an active, willing participant on the other side. They would like to be able to make a deal. I can't say any more than that. They have till tomorrow. We'll see what happens.
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"I believe they're negotiating in good faith. I guess we'll find out."
Despite Trump's deadline, US troops launched a number of new strikes on military targets on Iran's Kharg Island earlier today (7 Apr) under his instruction.
According to the Iranian state-run media agency, Mehr News Agency, a large explosion occurred earlier this morning in the area of the vital Persian Gulf island, hitting its oil export hub and potentially hindering crude oil flow.
"The American-Zionist enemy has carried out several attacks on Kharg Island, and several explosions have also been heard on the island," the country's reporters wrote on Telegram.
A senior US official also told Fox News the missiles have hit bunkers, radar stations, and ammunition storage.
Metro also reported that a historic railway between two major Iranian cities has also been attacked by US-Israeli forces this afternoon, killing two citizens and injuring three others.
Re-emphasising his warning, Trump, 79, took to Truth Social just moments ago, warning that a 'whole civilisation' of Iranians 'will die tonight, never to be brought back again'.
He continued: "I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalised minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS?
"We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World."
The Republican leader concluded his message: "47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!"
Trump has issued Iran with a number of largely sporadic deadlines since he and Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu launched initial missiles in its direction back in February.
On 21 March, the politician threatened to 'hit and obliterate' power plants, 'starting with the biggest', if leaders refused to open Hormuz.
As a reminder, this describes a waterway located between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, which is critical in shipping oil around the world. Its closure has resulted in oil prices skyrocketing around the world.
On 23 March, he claimed there had been 'very good and productive conversations' between US and Iranian leaders, and that strikes from the former would be postponed for five years.
On 27 March, Trump promised to extend this delay for 10 days, 'as per [an] Iranian government request'. This moved the deadline for a decision on the Strait to 6 April.
On 3 April, however, he warned that Iran had '48 hours' before his forces would unleash 'all hell'.
Topics: Donald Trump, US News, World News, News, Iran, Politics
Rhianna Benson