President Donald Trump warned Sunday that he will launch a sweeping attack on Iran if a critical shipping route remains blocked past Monday evening.
Trump made the threat in a phone call with Axios journalist Barak Ravid, saying he plans to blow up “everything over there” if his conditions are not satisfied by 8 p.m. EST Monday.
“There is a good chance [we reach a deal with Iran], but if they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there,” Trump told Ravid.
He also expressed skepticism about Iranian negotiating tactics, adding: “The negotiations are going well, but you never get to the finish line with the Iranians.”
The standoff centers on the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow waterway through which approximately 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.
Iranian officials shut the strait to U.S.-aligned vessels following American and Israeli strikes on Iran in late February.
Trump first threatened to bomb Iranian power plants in mid-March if the waterway was not reopened within 48 hours.
He extended that deadline twice, pointing to ongoing talks with Tehran, though Iranian officials denied any negotiations were taking place.
Last week, U.S. military forces struck a major Iranian bridge, killing eight people and wounding 95 others.
Trump told Ravid he personally authorized that strike out of frustration with what he viewed as deliberate stalling by Iranian officials.
“Then [Tehran] said they will meet us in five days,” Trump said.
“So I said, ‘Why five days?’ I felt they were not being serious. So I attacked the bridge.”
As of Saturday, two sources with knowledge of the talks told Axios on condition of anonymity that no ceasefire agreement had been reached.
