Live updates: Trump says ‘entire country’ of Iran could be taken out if no deal is reached by tomorrow

Trump Iran threat: President warns ‘entire country’ could be destroyed without nuclear deal by Tuesday

Muhammad Asghar | GlobalBeat

President Donald Trump warned Monday that the United States could wipe out “the entire country” of Iran if no nuclear agreement is reached by Tuesday, raising military tensions in the Persian Gulf to their highest level since 2019.

The threat came during a hastily arranged press conference at the White House where Trump said Iran had 24 hours to accept American terms for a new nuclear accord or face potential military action.

Trump’s ultimatum represents the most direct military threat issued by a U.S. president against Iran since he ordered the 2020 assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani. The president’s comments sent oil prices surging 8 percent and prompted emergency meetings at the United Nations Security Council.

Iran maintains it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, though international inspectors recently reported the country has enriched uranium to near weapons-grade levels. The Islamic Republic has resisted direct negotiations with Washington since Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu voiced support for Trump’s hardline stance during a phone call with the president, Israeli government spokesperson Tal Heinrich told reporters. Netanyahu said Israel stands ready to assist American forces if military action becomes necessary.

Russia and China immediately condemned the threat. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Moscow urges restraint, warning that military action could destabilize the entire region. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian called for diplomatic solutions through “dialogue and negotiation.”

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas summoned emergency talks with EU foreign ministers for Wednesday to coordinate a response. The EU has attempted to preserve economic ties with Iran despite U.S. sanctions, fearing regional war could trigger another refugee crisis.

Oil markets reacted violently to Trump’s threat, with Brent crude futures jumping $6.40 to $86.20 per barrel. The price surge sent energy stocks climbing on Wall Street while airline shares tumbled. Analysts warned sustained high oil costs could push several European countries into recession.

Major shipping companies began rerouting vessels away from the Persian Gulf, adding days to Asia-Europe sailing routes. Insurance rates for Gulf-bound tankers increased 300 percent, according to marine insurance market Lloyd’s of London.

Pentagon officials privately expressed concern about Trump’s timeline, several Defense Department officials told GlobalBeat on condition of anonymity. They noted that detailed military planning for large-scale operations typically requires months, not days.

The aircraft carriers USS Harry S. Truman and USS Theodore Roosevelt currently operate in the Indian Ocean, approximately 1,000 miles from Iran. Each carrier strike group carries roughly 90 aircraft including F/A-18 Super Hornets and electronic warfare planes. The B-2 Spirit bomber fleet at Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri remains on heightened alert, according to publicly available flight tracking data.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi responded defiantly on social media platform X, writing that Iran “will not surrender to threats” and warned that U.S. military action would trigger “a response that Washington will regret.”

The Israeli military began calling up reserve air defense units, according to Israeli media reports. The move suggests Jerusalem anticipates Iranian reprisals against Israeli territory should conflict erupt.

Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates began quietly preparing contingency plans to protect their oil infrastructure, Gulf diplomatic sources told GlobalBeat. Both countries maintain sophisticated missile defense systems supplied by Western nations.

Global airlines scrambled to reroute flights away from Iranian airspace. Lufthansa, Air France and British Airways canceled all flights to Middle Eastern destinations east of Saudi Arabia through at least Friday.

Background

The United States and Iran have maintained hostile relations since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, with tensions escalating dramatically after Trump abandoned the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2018. The multilateral agreement had imposed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Iran began exceeding uranium enrichment limits in 2019, arguing European countries failed to provide promised economic benefits. The International Atomic Energy Agency reported last month that Iran possesses enough enriched uranium for several nuclear weapons, though weaponization would require additional technical steps.

Previous military confrontations between the two nations included the January 2020 drone strike that killed Soleimani at Baghdad International Airport. Iran retaliated by launching ballistic missiles at American bases in Iraq, causing traumatic brain injuries to over 100 U.S. service members.

What’s Next

Iran has called an emergency session of its Supreme National Security Council for Tuesday morning, state media reported. The council includes President Masoud Pezeshkian, military commanders, and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who holds final authority over national security decisions.

The United Nations Security Council scheduled an emergency meeting for Wednesday morning, though Russia and China could veto any resolution condemning Iran. Market analysts expect oil prices to remain volatile throughout the week as traders assess the likelihood of military action.