New Delhi, Updated At: 06:35 AM Apr 07, 2026 IST
US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning that Washington could target and destroy major Iranian civilian infrastructure — including bridges and power plants — if Tehran did not agree to a deal by an announced deadline, sharply raising tensions across the region.
Repeating an ultimatum tied to an 8 pm (EST) Tuesday cutoff, Trump said the U.S. could “decimate” Iran’s infrastructure within hours and claimed such an operation could be completed in about four hours. “We have a plan… where every bridge in Iran will be decimated… where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again,” he said, adding that the U.S. did not want to carry out such destruction and could assist in rebuilding Iran if a deal were struck. He also warned Iran could be “taken out” in a single night, appearing to reference the same deadline.
Trump described a ceasefire proposal received by his administration as a “significant step” but “not good enough.” Speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll, he said Iran remained an “active, willing participant” in indirect talks and that negotiations with intermediaries were “going well.”
Diplomatic efforts underway involved a two-tier ceasefire plan transmitted through mediators from Egypt, Pakistan and Turkey. The draft calls for an immediate ceasefire followed by a comprehensive agreement within 45 days that would include reopening the Strait of Hormuz, restrictions on Iran’s nuclear programme and phased lifting of U.S.-led sanctions on Iranian oil exports.
U.S. official Pete Hegseth said Washington was intensifying military operations, stating: “Further to President Trump’s directions, today will be the largest volume of strikes since day one. Tomorrow? Even more than today.”
Iran replied firmly through a response delivered via Pakistan. Tehran’s reply, presented in 10 clauses, demands a permanent end to hostilities, cessation of military action, formal guarantees for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction measures and the lifting of sanctions. Earlier, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baqaei rejected a prior 15-point proposal as “unconventional, illogical and excessively demanding,” adding that “negotiation is in no way compatible with ultimatums, atrocity or threats” and calling for compensation and a structured framework before any reopening of the Strait.
The diplomatic activity follows an escalation of hostilities and reports of rising civilian casualties. Iran said six children were killed in strikes in Qom in the past 12 hours and reported that Sharif University of Technology had been hit by bunker-buster bombs — the fifth university struck in a month. Iranian officials also said a senior intelligence figure of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps was killed in a strike.
The Strait of Hormuz, a critical global energy route, has been disrupted since a U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign began in late February, contributing to higher oil and gas prices and market volatility.
Backchannel efforts over the weekend included Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty speaking with U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff, while Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi conveyed the latest proposal. Despite intense shuttle diplomacy, there was no confirmation of a breakthrough by late Monday, with major gaps remaining on sanctions relief, security guarantees and control of strategic waterways.
