Washington: US President Donald Trump asserted on Tuesday that military strikes against Iran would be initiated if his set deadline of 8 pm local time (0000GMT Wednesday) was not met with a favorable deal. Trump emphasized the urgency of the timeline during an interview with Fox News, stating, "8 pm is happening," and reaffirming that the plan was firmly on track.

According to Anadolu Agency, Trump expressed that if the deadline was reached without a resolution, there would be "an attack like they have not seen." The president had previously mentioned that postponing the deadline was "highly unlikely," noting that Iran had ample opportunity to reach an agreement. However, he left a slight possibility for negotiation, indicating that significant progress could alter the current trajectory.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump warned of the severe consequences, stating, "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again." The ultimatum set by Trump involved a threat to demolish bridges and power plants in Iran if Tehran did not comply with reopening the Strait of Hormuz and agreeing to a deal.

The ongoing US-Israeli military actions, which commenced on February 28, have reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least 1,340 individuals, including the former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran has launched drone and missile strikes aimed at Israel, Jordan, Iraq, and Gulf states hosting US military facilities.