TEHRAN – U.S. President Donald Trump has repeated his unhinged threats to commit mass war crimes against the Iranian nation, a move that would not only harm Iranians but also seriously damage the interests of Washington’s Arab allies in the Persian Gulf, and force Tehran to take further actions that would restrict the flow of oil outside West Asia.

During a press conference held to explain what the U.S. calls a "historic rescue mission" of two ejected airmen in Iranian territory—but what Iranian media describes as a failed operation for something larger—Trump said he would destroy Iran's bridges, power plants, and other civilian infrastructure if the country does not accept defeat in his unpopular war by midnight Tuesday, Washington time.

"We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business—burning, exploding, and never to be used again," he said during a Monday press conference also attended by his War Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Trump added, "I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours."

"Do I want to destroy their infrastructure? No," he said. "It will take them 100 years to rebuild right now. If we left today, it would take them 20 years to rebuild their country, and it would never be as good as it was. And the only way they're going to be able to rebuild their country is to utilize the genius of the United States of America."

Over the past five weeks, the U.S. and Israel have primarily attacked Iran's civilian infrastructure, hospitals, universities, schools, and residential buildings. In the early hours of Tuesday, they struck multiple sites in Iran's vast railway system, several major highways connecting key cities, and a synagogue in central Tehran.

Reporters attending Monday's briefing did not press the president on the sheer illegality of his threats to send Iran "back to the Stone Age". Only one or two referred to Trump's claims that his bombing campaign is meant to "free" the Iranian people, and asked how depriving Iranians of electricity would achieve that. However, they fell silent after Trump responded that the Iranian people "would be willing to suffer that for their freedom," and that they want U.S. strikes to continue.

Reporters also did not seem alarmed by the president's comments that he would like to take Iran's oil, referring to Iranian resources as potential "spoils" of war.

Most questions centered on rising gas prices in the United States, which have resulted from Iran's restrictions on navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Questions were also asked about whether the U.S. would be willing to expand its aggression by deploying ground troops to Iran.

Trump’s war against Iran appears to have been launched on the assumption that Iran's political system would collapse within days of the assassination of Iran's Leader, Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, on February 28. Instead, the Islamic Republic has proven resilient and exacted staggering costs on the U.S., Israel, and their Arab allies who have enabled the aggression. Iran has been attacking U.S. bases across West Asia, rendering around 70% of military installations inoperable; pounding Israel daily; and preventing ships belonging to or linked to the U.S. and Israel from navigating the strait.

Both the U.S. and Israel have been censoring the damage and casualties of the war through heavy suppression of media and citizens. But the economic toll from the situation at the Hormuz—where over 20% of the world’s energy and one third of the world's fertilizer used to pass through—has been impossible to conceal, despite extensive American efforts at market manipulation. Inside the U.S., gas prices have risen by 35%, and groceries by 6%. Energy prices have also skyrocketed in Europe and East Asia, and with the planting season approaching, food prices will likely rise sharply in the coming months.

Iran's restrictions at the Strait of Hormuz—which Trump allegedly dismissed as impossible before the war—and Washington's failure to force it open are the main obstacles preventing Trump from stopping his failed offensive and declaring victory. Iran is likely to maintain control of the strait even after the war ends.

Trump's recent expletive-laden threats, demanding that Iran open the strait or be "obliterated" as a nation reflect this frustration. According to sources speaking to Al-Mayadeen, Trump has contacted Iran through various intermediaries while simultaneously threatening the country. His demands for a ceasefire, however, have been called "illogical" and "nonstarters" by Iranian authorities, who have instead submitted a ten-point peace plan of their own to intermediaries. According to an IRNA report, this plan requires that the U.S. and Israel halt all aggression against Iran and its allies in the region, lift economic sanctions against Iran, respect its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, pay compensation, and recognize Iran's newfound and uncontested control of the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is unlikely to back down from these demands, even if the U.S. and Israel increase their crimes.

Should Trump widen his attacks on Iranian infrastructure, not only Israel but also Washington's Arab allies in the Persian Gulf would be extensively harmed as well. In the past, Iran responded to similar threats by stating it would "plunge the region into darkness." 

Tehran has previously struck gas and petrochemical infrastructure in the region in retaliation for U.S.-Israeli attacks on its own companies and gas fields.  Both Israel and regional Arab countries rely on a limited number of power and desalination plants to meet their populations' needs. In contrast, Iran has over 200 power plants scattered across the country, and relies on desalination for only 5% of the water used by its civilians.

In response to Trump's latest threats of war crimes, the Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) said it would expand the war "beyond the region." Analysts believe this is likely a warning that Iran would rely on its Yemeni allies to also restrict the flow of oil through the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait, which would compound the global energy supply crisis. In its statement, the IRGC said it would deprive the U.S. and its allies for “many years” in the years to come. 

In a separate statement, the IRGC also warned Washington's Arab allies in the region—who have been allowing their airspace and soil to be used for attacks against Iran—that it has so far practiced considerable "restraint" in its attacks on Arab Persian Gulf countries, only reciprocating strikes in kind. "We would abandon all restraint if necessary," it added.

In related developments, the Handala Cyber group, which is close to Resistance factions, announced Tuesday evening that it has gained full access to all data related to Israel's sensitive electoral infrastructure and handed it over to Iran, stating that the data is now in the possession of a standby missile unit.

***************CAPTION: U.S. President Donald Trump said he would “blow up” the entirety of Iran if the country does not accept defeat in a press conference held on April 6, 2026. American reporters did not seem to mind his threats.