LIVE | Trump threatens Iran again and says he is ready to act if the agreement collapses.
As the war in the Middle East entered its sixth week, the U.S. president warned Tehran that its civilian infrastructure would be destroyed if it did not allow ships to pass through the sea lane through which one-fifth of the world's crude oil and gas transits.

An explosion near Mehrabad International Airport in Tehran on March 7, 2026.
Oil prices rose Tuesday, while stocks posted a slight, if cautious, advance as investors assessed the latest deadline set by Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz or it would be "taken out."
As the Middle East war entered its sixth week, the U.S. president warned Tehran that its civilian infrastructure would be destroyed if it did not allow ships to pass through the sea lane through which one-fifth of the world's crude oil and gas transits.
These statements came as he and the Islamic republic claimed that the proposal, promoted by international mediators, for a 45-day ceasefire was not yet ready.
Trump told a news conference that "the entire country" of Iran "can be taken out in one night – and that night might be tomorrow night," if his ultimatum to reopen the strait by 8 p.m. EST on Wednesday was not met.
All times correspond to Eastern Standard Time (EST).
Trump threatens Iran again and says he is ready to act if the agreement collapses
President Donald Trump said U.S. military forces will remain deployed around Iran until the “real agreement” between the two countries is fully carried out, while also issuing a direct warning over any potential breach by the Islamic regime. In a post on his Truth Social account, Trump stated that “All U.S. Ships, Aircraft, and Military Personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with.”
The Republican president emphasized that if the agreement is not honored, then “the ‘Shootin’ Starts,’” warning that it would be “bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before.” Trump also reiterated one of the key conditions of the understanding with Tehran, asserting that “NO NUCLEAR WEAPONS” will be allowed and that the Strait of Hormuz “WILL BE OPEN & SAFE.”
The message comes amid a fragile truce reached between Washington and Tehran. Trump added that U.S. Armed Forces are “Loading Up and Resting,” and concluded with an emphatic message: “AMERICA IS BACK!”
Iran's Supreme National Security Council claims total victory despite agreeing to ceasefire
Iran's Supreme National Security Council released a lengthy statement declaring an "undeniable, historic, and crushing defeat" of the United States, framing the ceasefire as an American surrender to Iranian military strength.
According to the document, Washington has agreed in principle to Iran's ten-point plan, which includes continued Iranian control over the Strait of Hormuz, recognition of its uranium enrichment program, the lifting of all sanctions, economic compensation, and the withdrawal of U.S. combat forces from the region.
The statement, however, stands in sharp contrast to the White House's own account, which frames the deal as a Trump victory. Neither government has released an official text of the agreement, and several of the points Iran claims to have secured remain unconfirmed by Washington. The document should be read for what it is: propaganda aimed at a domestic audience.
Vance and China: the unlikely actors behind the last-minute US-Iran deal
A source from one of the mediating countries told AP's UN correspondent Farnoush Amiri that the last-minute deal between Washington and Tehran came together thanks to two unexpected actors: Vice President JD Vance and China. According to the source, Vance was brought into the negotiations late Tuesday, while China helped get Iran on board.
China's role was confirmed by the New York Times, citing three Iranian officials: Iran accepted Pakistan's two-week ceasefire proposal following a last-minute intervention by China, a key ally, which urged Tehran to show flexibility and defuse tensions. The officials added that the ceasefire was approved by the new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei.
Iranian Foreign Minister says the regime agrees to guarantee navigation through the Strait of Hormuz for two weeks “if attacks cease”
Iran’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Seyed Abbas Araghchi, said that the regime will accept the proposal for a mutual ceasefire with the United States as long as attacks against it stop. In a brief statement, the Iranian diplomat stated that navigation through the Strait of Hormuz will be guaranteed provided there is coordination with the Iranian military.
"On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I express my gratitude and appreciation to my dear brothers, His Excellency the Prime Minister of Pakistan, Sharif, and His Excellency Field Marshal Munir, for their tireless efforts to end the war in the region," the foreign minister said.
"If attacks against Iran are halted, our powerful Armed Forces will cease their defensive operations. For a period of two weeks, safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz will be possible through coordination with Iran’s Armed Forces and with due consideration of technical limitations."
Trump suspends bombing of Iran for two weeks and announces "both sides" ceasefire
President Donald Trump confirmed a ceasefire with Iran on his Truth Social account.
Trump stated in his post that he received a ten-point peace proposal from Iran, which he described as a "workable basis" for negotiation. He also said he will halt attacks against Iran as long as Tehran agrees to the complete reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
"Based on conversations with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistani army chief Asim Munir, who requested that I hold off the destructive force being sent tonight to Iran, and subject to the Islamic Republic of Iran agreeing to the COMPLETE, IMMEDIATE, and SAFE OPENING of the Strait of Hormuz, I agree to suspend the bombing and attack of Iran for a period of two weeks. This will be a double-sided CEASEFIRE! The reason for doing so is that we have already met and exceeded all Military objectives, and are very far along with a definitive Agreement concerning Long-term PEACE with Iran, and PEACE in the Middle East. We received a 10-point proposal from Iran, and believe it is a workable basis on which to negotiate. Almost all of the various points of past contention have been agreed to between the United States and Iran, but a two-week period will allow the Agreement to be finalized and consummated. On behalf of the United States of America, as President, and also representing the Countries of the Middle East, it is an Honor to have this long-standing problem close to resolution."
U.S. urges citizens to reconsider travel to Saudi Arabia
(AFP) The United States urged its citizens to reconsider traveling to Saudi Arabia for next month’s Muslim Hajj pilgrimage for security reasons, in a statement released by the embassy in Riyadh.
The mission issued general travel advisories regarding travel to Saudi Arabia due to Iranian drone and missile attacks and emphasized that “due to the security situation and intermittent travel disruptions, we advise you to reconsider participating in the Hajj this year.”
Russia and China block the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz
Russia and China exercised their veto power in the United Nations (U.N.) Security Council and blocked a resolution that would have allowed the Strait of Hormuz to be reopened.
The proposal, which also included the provision of escorts for merchant ships, was put forward by Bahrain and supported by the United States.
New warning from the U.S. to Iran
White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated, on behalf of the Trump administration, that Iran has a set deadline to accept Washington’s demands.
“The Iranian regime has until 8 p.m. Eastern Time to meet the moment and make a deal with the United States,” Leavitt said. “Only the president knows where things stand and what he will do.”
Meanwhile, Israeli Chief of the General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, said that Benjamin Netanyahu’s government will increase pressure on Iran and “intensify the damage inflicted on the regime.”
Wall Street stocks fall as Trump doubles down on threats against Iran
Stocks on Wall Street went down early Tuesday, while oil prices rose, as President Donald Trump doubled down on his threats to massively bomb Iran if the country does not agree to U.S. demands.
Stocks had risen on Monday on hopes of a ceasefire, but the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 0.7% early Tuesday to 46,368.33 points.
About 10 minutes into the session, the S&P 500 was retreating 0.5% to 6,576.59 points, while the Nasdaq Composite, dominated by technology stocks, lost 0.6% to 21,859.32 points.
Erdogan condemns "treacherous attack" in Istanbul
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan condemned on Tuesday what he described as a "treacherous attack" outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, where a gunman was shot dead, and vowed to fight "terrorism."
"We will continue our fight against all types of terrorism and we will not allow... provocations to damage Turkey's security climate," Erdogan said.
Iran's Mehr Agency reports attacks on Kharg Island
Iranian media on Tuesday reported attacks on Kharg Island, a crucial enclave from where approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports are controlled.
"The U.S.-Zionist enemy carried out several attacks on Kharg Island, and several explosions were heard there," the Mehr agency noted.
According to a message posted on X by Axios journalist Barak Ravid, citing an official in that country, Washington attacked "military targets."
Vice President J.D. Vance insisted that the targeted attacks against the island do not represent a change in strategy.
"We were going to strike some military targets on Kharg Island, and I believe we have done so," he said during a press conference in Budapest, Hungary.
Trump warns "whole civilization will die" in Iran if ultimatum expires
President Donald Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die" in Iran on Tuesday if the country does not heed his ultimatum to accept U.S. war demands.
"A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
Iran Guards warn they will respond beyond region if U.S. "crosses red lines"
Iran's Revolutionary Guards on Tuesday warned they would retaliate beyond the Middle East and deprive Washington and its allies of oil and gas if the United States crossed "red lines," a statement carried on state television said.
"The Revolutionary Guards once again declare that if the American terrorist army crosses the red lines, our response will go beyond the region," the statement said.
It added that the Guards, Iran's ideological army, would target infrastructure "to deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years."
Israel military says completed wave of strikes on Iran "infrastructure sites"
The Israeli military said it had completed a broad wave of strikes targeting "infrastructure sites" across Iran on Tuesday, without providing details of what the sites were.
"A short while ago, the IDF completed a wide-scale wave of strikes targeting dozens of infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian terror regime in several areas across Iran," the military said in a statement.
Strike at the Qom Bridge
According to state television, the United States and Israel launched an attack on a bridge near the Iranian city of Qom, south of Tehran, the province's deputy governor said.
The reported attack came hours before a deadline imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump on Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face destruction of its bridges and energy plants.
Trains cancelled
Train travel to and from Mashhad, Iran's second-largest city, was canceled until further notice after Israel warned Iranians not to use the railroads until 5:30 p.m. GMT, local media reported, quoting the governor.
Shooting in Istanbul
One gunman was killed and two others wounded in a shootout with police outside the Israeli consulate in Istanbul, the local governor said, adding that two officers were lightly wounded.
No immediate link was made to the war in the Middle East, but Israeli and U.S. diplomatic missions in the region and elsewhere are on high alert for any attacks against them.
Iran's response
Iran's ambassador to Kuwait urged Gulf states to find a way to avoid a "tragedy" as U.S. President Donald Trump's deadline for Iran to reach a deal or face attacks on civilian infrastructure ran out.
Iran has vowed to retaliate against infrastructure across the region if its own is destroyed.
New strikes against Iran just hours before Trump's ultimatum expires
Iran suffered on Tuesday new attacks that left 18 dead, hours before the expiration of Donald Trump's ultimatum, who threatens to destroy civilian infrastructure in the country if there is no agreement to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, vital for the world's oil supply.
On the 39th day of the Israeli and U.S. offensive against Iran, which sparked the conflict in the Middle East, Iranians oscillate between fear and some indifference to the threat of the U.S. president.
Critical stage
Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, which mediates between Iran and the United States, said Tuesday that efforts to end the war were approaching a "critical" stage.
Tehran synagogue destroyed
Joint U.S.-Israeli attacks early Tuesday morning "completely destroyed" the Rafi-Nia synagogue in Tehran, local media reported.
Iran has a small Jewish community, most of whom fled after the 1979 Islamic revolution.
Israel and Iran exchange fire
Explosions were heard in some areas of Tehran and in the nearby city of Karaj, Iranian media reported, while the Israeli military announced that it was carrying out a "wave" of airstrikes against Iran.
"A few moments ago explosions were heard in some areas of Tehran and Karaj," local media Fars and Mehr reported on Telegram.
The Israeli military also announced the activation of its air defenses to respond to the missiles fired by Iran.
Two killed in Iraqi Kurdistan
A drone "coming from Iran" killed a couple in Iraqi Kurdistan after crashing into their home, local officials said.
Elsewhere, two explosions were heard near Erbil airport, which hosts advisers to the U.S.-led anti-jihadist coalition, in the autonomous region of Iraqi Kurdistan, in the north of the country, an AFP journalist reported.
Hours earlier, air defense systems shot down four missiles headed toward the U.S. consulate in Erbil, a security source told AFP.
Iran on Trump's threats
After U.S. President Donald Trump reiterated his threats to raze Iran's infrastructure, an Iranian military spokesman said "rude and arrogant rhetoric" was not influencing his actions.
Several explosions in Iran
According to Iran's Mehr news agency, as well as the Shargh and Ham-Mihan newspapers, the Iranian capital was hit by several explosions on Tuesday.
An AFP reporter confirmed that several explosions were heard coming from the north of the city.
Oil prices rise and stock markets post slight gain after Trump's latest threat against Iran
Oil prices rose Tuesday, while stocks posted a slight, albeit cautious, gain as investors assessed the latest deadline set by Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the strategic Strait of Hormuz or it would be "decimated."