US President Donald Trump stated this Monday (6), in a press conference, that all of Iran “can be annihilated in one night” and that this could happen “tomorrow night”, in reference to the ultimatum he gave Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz on Tuesday.
“The entire country (Iran) could be devastated in a single night, and that night could be tomorrow,” said the Republican at a conference in the White House press room to explain the rescue operation, in Iranian territory, of the two crew members of an American F-15 fighter jet shot down last Friday by Tehran.
The Republican ruler announced over the weekend the extension until Tuesday of the ultimatum he gave for the Strait of Hormuz (through which an important part of the hydrocarbons exported globally passes) to be reopened, a passage that Iran keeps partially closed after the start of American and Israeli attacks on February 28th.
Trump stated on social media that Iran has until 8pm on Tuesday, Washington time (9pm in Brasília), to reopen the maritime passage; otherwise, the US will bomb Iranian power plants and other critical infrastructure such as bridges.
At the press conference held at the White House, the president praised the rescue operation for the occupants of the downed fighter, especially with regard to the co-pilot, who was hidden in a mountainous region of Iran for hours before being found by American military personnel.
Trump said the operation to rescue the co-pilot involved 155 aircraft, including four bombers, 64 fighters, 48 refueling tankers and 13 rescue aircraft.