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Washington: The ongoing conflict in the Middle East—pitting the US and Israel against Iran—is intensifying. Only 24 hours remain before “doom” descends upon Iran. US President Donald Trump ( Trump ) has made it unequivocally clear that if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened before 8:00 PM on Tuesday night, he will unleash a cataclysm upon Iran. Trump’s ultimatum is sending shockwaves across the globe. Meanwhile, a US official has claimed that Iran has submitted a 10-point response to the US proposal aimed at ending the conflict. On the other hand, President Donald Trump has once again reiterated that Tuesday marks the final deadline for Iran. In his address on Monday, Trump also commented on the operation to rescue an F-15 pilot.
“No One Else Could Have Pulled Off Such a Rescue” — Trump
During his address on Monday, Donald Trump spoke regarding the rescue of an F-15 pilot from Iran. He stated, “No nation in the world possesses weaponry like that of the United States. We ventured deep into enemy territory and successfully brought back both of our pilots. No other nation in the world could have executed such a rescue operation. A team of 200 individuals worked together to save the life of a single soldier. The pilot was critically injured and trapped. The rescue team was fully prepared for an operation of this magnitude. The pilot continuously relayed his location. Twenty-one aircraft were deployed for the rescue mission, which took 48 hours to complete. Seven diversionary teams were dispatched to mislead the enemy. Not a single one of our soldiers suffered any harm during the operation. News of the pilot’s disappearance was leaked. Our rescue plan was also leaked. We will identify the individual responsible for leaking this information.”
A Warning to Iran
During his press conference, Donald Trump once again issued a stern warning to Iran. Trump stated that Tuesday could mark the night of Iran’s demise. He asserted that the United States could wipe out the entirety of Iran in a single night. Trump declared, “We will not allow Iran to possess a nuclear bomb.” He added that the regime in Iran has undergone a transformation.
**What Are Iran’s Demands?**
An American official has disclosed that, on Monday, Iran conveyed a 10-point response—via Pakistan—to the U.S. proposal to end the conflict. In this response, Iran rejected the idea of a temporary ceasefire, demanding instead a permanent cessation of hostilities on its own terms. Iran stated that it is not prepared to settle merely for a ceasefire; rather, it seeks a permanent resolution encompassing the end of regional fighting, relief from sanctions, support for reconstruction, and established protocols for safe transit through the Strait of Hormuz. Meanwhile, according to the Associated Press (AP), Iran’s state-run news agency, IRNA, reported that Iran has indeed rejected the latest ceasefire proposal and is seeking a permanent end to the war.
**Tuesday: The Final Deadline — Trump**
Separately, while speaking to the media on Monday, U.S. President Donald Trump made several significant statements. Trump declared that Tuesday serves as the final deadline for Iran. He noted that Iran has put forward a significant proposal—one that, while “not good,” is nonetheless “very important.” Trump characterized the Iranian people as capable fighters and “very tough people.” He observed that the adversary is strong, though “not as strong as it was about a month ago”; indeed, he added, “they are not strong at all right now.” Furthermore, Trump asserted that the current regime in Iran is far more astute than its predecessor. He claimed, “We have completely brought about a change in power.” Finally, Trump remarked that Iran has killed 45,000 protesters—something, he noted, “we do not do.” Trump: Iranians Want to Hear the Sound of Bombs
US President Donald Trump stated, “When the Iranian people don’t hear the sound of bombs, they get restless; they want to hear the sound of bombs. Iran has a few missiles left, a few drones remaining. They possess no capability. If they still had Soleimani, it would be a completely different matter. We might still be winning, but it would be difficult.” Trump further added, “We could walk away from Iran right now, but I want to finish it. If I had the choice, what would I want to do? I would take their oil. Unfortunately, the American people would want to see us come home.” A reporter asked Trump, “What would you say to those Americans who are not fans of war?” To this, Trump replied, “Those people are fools.”
