Trump recalls his ultimatum and stresses that “Iran can be devastated in one night”

The US president, Donald Trump, reiterated this Monday the ultimatum that ends on Tuesday in which he demands that Iran open the Strait of Hormuz and has warned that the entire country “can be devastated in one night”, which could be tomorrow.

“The entire country can be devastated in one night and it could be tomorrow,” Trump said during a press conference in Washington. “We have a plan that relies on the power of our armies. By midnight every bridge in Iran will be destroyed. Every nuclear power plant will be inoperative, on fire, with explosions and will never be able to be used again,” he added.

The tenant of the White House has highlighted that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is “a great priority” and when asked if he would accept that Iran charge a toll for the passage of ships, he has revolted to propose that it should be the United States that collects it. “Better I do it than allow them to do it” because “we have won,” he indicated.

During the press conference, Trump was questioned about the fact that these bombings could be considered war crimes, to which he responded that the Iranians themselves “are willing to suffer for their freedom.” “The Iranians say, and we have many intercepted messages, ‘please keep bombing’ and the bombs fall next to their houses (…). All I can tell you is that they want freedom,” he assured.

The Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, participated in the press conference and insisted on the threats of widespread bombing if the ultimatum deadline is met without an agreement. “Iran has to choose. Choose well because this president is not playing. You can ask (Qasem) Soleimani, (Nicolas) Maduro, Khomeini,” he argued in reference to the founder of the Islamic Republic, Ruhollah Khomeini, when he presumably wanted to name the Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, who died on the first day of the US bombings on Iran, on February 28.

Hegseth has also highlighted that the number of attacks on Iranian soil is increasing. “Today we have had the highest volume of attacks since the first day of this operation. Tomorrow there will be even more,” he explained.

CRITICISM OF THE ALLIES

Trump has taken advantage of the press conference to again attack allies such as Japan, South Korea and NATO countries for not collaborating in the bombings.

“When we needed them… We didn’t need them anyway. They haven’t helped at all, quite the contrary. They have gotten out of the way so as not to help. They don’t even want to give us landing strips,” he said. For Trump, “it all started with Greenland.” “We want Greenland. They don’t want to give it to us,” he argued.

Outside the Atlantic Alliance, he has mentioned countries such as Australia, Japan or South Korea and has recalled the 50,000 soldiers deployed in Japan or the 45,000 in South Korea “to defend them from North Korea.” “If a president who I am not going to name had done his job, Kim Jong Un would not have nuclear weapons now,” he argued.

Instead, he highlighted the “excellent” response from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, although he recalled that the Kuwaitis “have shot down three of our planes” and questioned how they handle the “beautiful” American Patriot missiles.