New Delhi, Updated At : 11:05 AM Apr 06, 2026 IST
US President Donald Trump on Sunday night appeared to extend by 24 hours his deadline for Iran to make a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face devastating attacks on infrastructure.
Trump posted on Truth Social, “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” — roughly 5:30 am in India on Wednesday. He gave no context in the post, but US media and news agencies interpreted it as an extension of a deadline that was due to expire on Monday.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said, “I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now.” Earlier, he used an expletive‑laden post on Truth Social calling on Iran to let ships pass and threatening further strikes on Iranian energy and transport infrastructure, saying, “Tuesday will be power plant day, and bridge day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the **** Strait, you crazy ****, or you’ll be living in hell – just watch! Praise be to Allah”.
Iran has rejected demands to reopen the Strait without a framework and has sought compensation for damage to civilian infrastructure caused during the war. Tehran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz shipping lane since the start of the US‑Israeli bombing campaign on February 28. About a fifth of global oil supplies pass through the waterway.
Oman and Iran held deputy foreign minister–level talks on Saturday to explore options for ensuring smooth maritime transit; Iran earlier said it was working with Oman to monitor traffic through the strait. Meanwhile, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty spoke by phone with US envoy Steve Witkoff, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, and counterparts from Turkey and Pakistan, discussing “ideas and proposals to achieve the required calm” and warning of an “unprecedented explosion” in the Middle East.
