MS NOW: Trump's "threat to take out all of Iran in 'one night' is as heinous as it is dumb." [View all]

Apr. 7, 2026, 6:00 AM EDT
By Zeeshan Aleem

https://www.ms.now/opinion/trump-iran-war-crime-threats-hormuz-deadline

At a press conference on Monday, President Donald Trump did more than just defend his morally reprehensible threat to attack Iran’s civilian infrastructure if the country does not comply with his demand to reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. on Tuesday night. He warned that all of Iran “can be taken out” in one night.

The president’s advocacy of potential war crimes comes amid his increasingly desperate bid to get a leg up on Iran. But while the threats are ominous, the intimidation is highly unlikely to succeed strategically — and could even backfire.

At his White House press conference, Trump attempted to sound blasé about obliterating Iranian society. As he began speaking, he tossed out the extreme claim that “the entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.” That comment seemed to echo his more specific (and vulgar) post on Truth Social on Sunday: “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the F‑‑‑in’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah.” And that seemed to reprise his threat on Wednesday to “hit each and every one” of the country’s power plants — a clear indication that he was not distinguishing between power plants for civilian use and those that might also be used for military purposes.

If the United States does in fact conduct such strikes, they would disable much of Iran’s economy, wreak havoc on its health care system and otherwise cause untold suffering across the civilian population.