Middle East: Donald Trump maintains his ultimatum to Tuesday and threatens to “destroy” Iran in the absence of an agreement

This Monday, the American president announced that he would increase strikes on the country’s bridges and power plants if American conditions were not accepted within the allotted time.

The countdown is on. Donald Trump gave the Iranian regime until Tuesday evening, 8 p.m. (American time, or 2 a.m. in France), to accept an agreement ending the war in the Middle East, which has been underway for more than a month. “It’s a critical period,” the American president told the press on Monday.

The latter had for a time considered stopping the ultimatum this Monday. “I said to myself that Easter Day was not very appropriate,” he said with a form of lightness.

The tenant of the White House was also and above all extremely threatening, reaffirming that Iran “entire could be destroyed in a single night” and return “to the Stone Age” if American conditions were not accepted by Tehran.

It is mainly civilian infrastructure that the American army would target, according to Donald Trump. “We have a plan, through the might of our armed forces, that all bridges in Iran will be destroyed by midnight tomorrow (mardi) evening, that all the power plants in Iran will be out of service (…) and can never be used again,” he assured. According to Donald Trump, the local population would be ready to endure such strikes: “Iranians tell us: Keep bombing (…). What they want is freedom. They live in a horrible world.”

Last week, American and Israeli air forces struck “Iran’s largest bridge”, a structure located west of Tehran. At a press conference, the American president returned to the destruction of this crucial artery for the country. “Did you see the destroyed bridge?” We were very close to an agreement. Then I received a call from Mr. Witkoff, Mr. Kushner and JD (Vance), saying: I think they don’t want a deal. I told them: Ok, tell them to look out the window. And within 45 minutes, I gave the order to destroy the largest bridge in Iran, probably in the Middle East. In ten minutes, it was destroyed,” Donald Trump rewound, looking proud of his accomplishment.

A ceasefire proposal swept aside

According to the President of the United States, the discussions have not come to a standstill. He confirmed that mediating countries had submitted to him a proposal for a 45-day ceasefire. “It’s not yet good enough but it’s a very significant step,” still welcomed the ex-businessman. “This is one idea among many others and the president has not validated it,” the White House said prior to the press conference.

The Iranian government news agency Irna also claimed on Monday, without providing a source, that the regime had also rejected a ceasefire proposal with the United States and Israel, supported by Pakistan’s mediation efforts. The regime would have brushed it aside, insisting “on the need for a definitive end to the conflict”.

Also this Monday, the spokesperson for the Iranian army, Mohammad Akraminia, quoted by the Iranian news agency Isna, promised that his country would continue to fight “as long as political leaders deem it appropriate”. And added: “The enemy must certainly regret (the outbreak of hostilities) so that after this conflict we can regain security and avoid a new war.”