Overview
- President Trump, who set an 8 p.m. Eastern deadline, warned Tuesday that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz and said he would order strikes on bridges and power plants.
- Multiple outlets reported overnight strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, with NBC News citing a U.S. official and Iran saying the island was hit ahead of the deadline.
- Iran signaled retaliation as the IRGC said its “restraint has ended,” pledged to choke off oil and gas to the U.S. and partners, and cut direct communications with Washington, according to reports.
- Backlash grew at home as figures like Piers Morgan, Anthony Scaramucci, Tucker Carlson, and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene warned of war crimes or nuclear use and urged steps up to removal from office.
- Allies pressed for de‑escalation as legal experts and the U.N. warned that targeting civilian energy and transport systems could be a war crime, and shipping and energy markets faced fresh risk with the strait under strain.