President Trump on Sunday issued a renewed ultimatum to Iran, threatening once again to bomb its critical energy infrastructure if it did not open the Strait of Hormuz, a major transit route for a fifth of the world’s oil and gas.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Mr. Trump wrote on social media. “Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell — JUST WATCH.”
“Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” he later added.
It was far from the first time in the past two weeks that Mr. Trump has threatened Iran’s power plants, which tens of millions of Iranians rely on to power schools, hospitals, residences and other basic aspects of civilian life. Deliberate attacks on such civilian infrastructure are typically a violation of international humanitarian law, and in many cases can be considered war crimes.
Here is a timeline of the previous deadlines Mr. Trump has issued to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz:
March 21: In a post on social media, Mr. Trump declared that if Iran did not “FULLY OPEN” the strait within 48 hours, the United States would “obliterate their various POWER PLANTS, STARTING WITH THE BIGGEST ONE FIRST!”
Ali Mousavi, Iran’s permanent representative to the International Maritime Organization, said that the strait was “open to everyone” except his country’s enemies. Other Iranian officials warned that attacks on energy infrastructure would be a direct attack on the Iranian people and that Iran would retaliate in kind.
March 23: Two days after he issued the first threat, Mr. Trump said that the United States had had “productive” conversations with Iran and that he had ordered the Pentagon to postpone any strikes on Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days. Iranian officials publicly denied that any talks were underway.
March 26: As stocks on Wall Street tanked, Mr. Trump again postponed his deadline by 10 days, this time to April 6 at 8 p.m. Eastern time, saying that he was “pausing the period of Energy Plant destruction” at the Iranian government’s request.
March 30: Mr. Trump claimed that “great progress” had been made in negotiations to end the war. At the same time, he threatened that if a deal was not reached and the Strait of Hormuz were not “immediately” opened, the United States would destroy all of Iran’s power plants and oil wells, as well as Kharg Island, Iran’s main hub for oil exports, and “possibly all” desalination plants.
April 1: Mr. Trump said that Iran had asked for a cease-fire, a claim that Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson called “false and baseless,” according to IRIB, the Iranian state news agency.
Mr. Trump wrote on social media that the United States would consider a cease-fire only when the strait was “open, free and clear.” He added: “Until then, we are blasting Iran into oblivion or, as they say, back to the Stone Ages!!!”
April 4: Two days before his postponed deadline for Iran to open the strait, Mr. Trump said that “time is running out — 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.” His post came after he made several conflicting statements about the strait in the preceding days, alternately attacking allies for not fighting to reopen it themselves and saying it would reopen naturally.
Anushka Patil is a Times reporter covering breaking and developing news around the world.
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