United States President Donald Trump has set an 8:00 p.m. ET deadline for Tuesday, April 7, for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to target Iranian civilian infrastructure if the demand is not met. In a post on Truth Social, Trump warned that "Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran." He added, "There will be nothing like it!!! Open the FStrait, you crazy b***, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah."
Tehran has vowed a "devastating" response to any attacks on civilian targets. The Iranian central military command issued the warning following Trump’s threats. Meanwhile, tensions have been exacerbated by conflicting reports regarding a U.S. military operation to rescue a downed pilot. While the White House described the mission as a success, Iranian officials labeled the attempt a failure, according to La Tercera.
Escalating military strikes
The ongoing conflict has resulted in significant damage to infrastructure inside Iran. State broadcaster IRIB reported that a strike near Tehran’s Sharif University of Technology damaged a fuel station, causing temporary gas outages in the neighborhood. Additionally, the Fars news agency reported that six children under the age of 10 were killed in overnight U.S.-Israeli strikes on a residential area in Baharestan county. The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran also condemned a recent attack on the Khondab heavy water plant, calling it a "crime against science and human health."
Regional neighbors are also feeling the impact. The United Arab Emirates reported that air defenses in Fujairah responded to a missile and drone threat, with a drone striking a building owned by the telecommunications firm Du. A Ghanaian national sustained moderate injuries from falling shrapnel. Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Defense confirmed it intercepted two drones, while Israeli media reported that Iranian missiles set off alarms across southern Israel, including in Beersheba, though no casualties were reported.
Dr. Renad Mansour of Chatham House told France24 that the war is forcing Iraq to abandon its "careful strategy of multi-alignment." As the conflict continues, Iraq’s capacity to maintain neutral relations with both the United States and Iran is diminishing. In Tehran, observers note there is currently no indication that legitimate negotiations are taking place between the regime and Washington to resolve the crisis.
Domestic political pressure is also mounting for the U.S. administration. Reports indicate that independent voters are turning away from President Trump due to the war, causing concern among Republicans ahead of the November midterms. The "No Kings" movement has seen record turnout at recent protests against the president's management of the conflict. Meanwhile, the Artemis II mission continues its lunar trajectory, with NASA reporting that the crew is preparing for a scientific survey of previously unseen lunar regions on April 6.
