U.S. President Donald Trump has again urged Iran to reach a deal before a deadline he set, warning that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if an agreement is not reached.
“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, who knows,” he added.
Trump also referred to what he described as “47 years of extortion, corruption, and death,” and expressed support for “the great people of Iran.”
Trump had earlier warned on Sunday that unless Tehran agreed by Tuesday evening to allow free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he would order strikes on Iran’s power plants and bridges.
Meanwhile, a 45-day ceasefire proposal was put forward by mediators on Monday following meetings aimed at finding a diplomatic solution to the conflict.
However, Iran reportedly rejected the proposed truce, instead calling for a permanent end to the hostilities.
Reports said Tehran’s proposal included 10 clauses, including an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, the lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction.