Iran war latest: Trump warns, a 'whole civilization will die tonight' as 8 p.m. deadline looms

After several delays, President Donald Trump has issued an ultimatum for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, calling it his final offer. President Trump took to social media, warning a "whole civilization will die" if his deadline isn't met. Trump also said he is not concerned about possibly committing war crimes as he threatened to destroy Iranian infrastructure.

Pope admonishes Trump's threats

3:53 p.m. ET: Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday said that Trump's threat to destroy Iran was "truly unacceptable."

Leo didn’t cite Trump by name but in comments in English he urged people to contact their political leaders and congressional representatives "to ask them, tell them to work for peace and to reject war."

"We have a worldwide economic crisis, an energy crisis, (a) situation in the Middle East of great instability, which is only provoking more hatred throughout the world," he said.

Trump on Iran: "Whole Civilization will die tonight"

President Trump is issuing new threats to Iran as the 8PM deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz looms and targets were struck in Iran's Kharg Island overnight. In a new Truth Social Post the president said: "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will. However, now that we have Complete and Total Regime Change, where different, smarter, and less radicalized minds prevail, maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen, WHO KNOWS? We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World. 47 years of extortion, corruption, and death, will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran!"

What time is the Iran deadline?

President Trump has set an 8 p.m. ET deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face destruction of its power plants and bridges in the country.

Iran has rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal after saying they want to find a permanent end to the war with the United States and Israel.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres warned that attacking civilian infrastructure is banned under international law.

New attacks were carried out today on Iran, while Iran responded with missile attacks against Israel and other Gulf Arab countries.

More than 1,900 people have been killed in Iran since the war began. In Israel, more than 1,400 people have been killed. The U.S. has lost 13 service members since the start of the war.

Women walk past buildings destroyed in a joint attack by Israel and the United States on April 6, 2026, in Tehran, Iran. The United States and Israel continue their joint attack on Iran that began on February 28. Iran retaliated by firing waves of mi

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Here's the latest for Tuesday:

Iranians form human chain to protect power plants

2:50 p.m. ET: The Associated Press is reporting that Iranian officials are urging young people to form human chains to protect power plants Trump has threatened to bomb.

Iran's president said 14 million people have volunteered to fight.

President Trump says reopening the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point for avoiding wider attacks.

Top House Democrats issue statement asking for Congress to come back into session

2:45 p.m. ET: House Democrats Hakeem Jeffries, Katherine Clark and four other top Democrat leaders issued a joint statement in response to President Trump's deadline and warning, calling him "completely unhinged" and asked for Congress to be brought back into session immediately to end the war.

"His statement threatening to eradicate an entire civilization shocks the conscience and requires a decisive congressional response," they said in the statement. "The House must come back into session immediately and vote to end this reckless war of choice in the Middle East before Donald Trump plunges our country into World War III."

The group also called on House Republicans to join them and put duty over party loyalty in stopping further action from the president.

Kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson freed

1:15 p.m. ET: American journalist Shelly Kittleson has been released after being kidnapped in Baghdad last week.

An Iran-backed Iraqi militia, Kataib Hezbollah told the Associated Press they decided to free the journalist in return for members of their group to be released.

An official with the group said Kittleson was released in the afternoon, but did not share her current location.

Russia and China veto UN resolution

12:55 p.m. ET: Russia and China vetoed a watered-down resolution aimed at reopening the Strait of Hormuz.

The Bahrain-sponsored resolution was voted on by the 15-member Security Council, 11-2.

The first proposal Bahrain drafted would have authorized countries to use "all necessary means," including military action, to ensure the strait is reopened for shipping traffic.

The latest version of the resolution only made it a suggestion, stating it "strongly encourages" countries using the strait to coordinate defensive efforts to safely navigate through the waterway.

Rubio accuses Iran of terrorism

12:15 p.m. ET: Secretary of State Marco Rubio accused Iran of terrorism from their attack on commercial shipping vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.

"The whole world has been impacted, unfortunately, because Iran is violating every law known by striking commercial vessels in the Straits of Hormuz," Rubio told reporters. "This is a regime that doesn’t believe in laws and rules or anything like that. It’s a state sponsor of terrorism, so it is not surprising that they’re now conducting terrorist operations against commercial vessels."

U.S. Embassy in Manama directs U.S. government employees to shelter in place

11:34 a.m. ET: The U.S. Embassy in Manama has directed all U.S. government employees to shelter in place. In an X post Tuesday, the embassy wrote in part:

"We are monitoring the situation in the Middle East closely and will keep you updated so you can make decisions about your safety. The U.S. Embassy in Manama has directed all U.S. government employees to shelter in place. We recommend all Americans in Bahrain do the same until further notice. To the extent possible, remain in a secure structure, and stay away from windows. Have a supply of food, water, medications, and other essential items."

Chuck Schumer calls Trump an "extremely sick person"

10:25 a.m. ET: New York Senator Chuck Schumer responded to President Trump's Tuesday morning social media threat to Iran, saying, "this is an extremely sick person."

Schumer renewed a plea for Republicans to vote against the war against Iran.

"Each republican who refuses to join us in voting against this wanton war of choice owns every consequence," in reference to Trump’s actions.

Vance confirms US strikes on Kharg Island

9:50 a.m. ET: Vice-President Vance spoke to the media Tuesday referencing the U.S. strikes on Kharg Island.

"My understanding ... that we were to strike some military targets on Kharg Island," Vance said. "I believe we’ve done so."

A White House official who previously spoke anonymously said the strikes did not target any oil infrastructure, just sites that had been previously targeted.

Vice President JD Vance during the joint press with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban in Budapest, Hungary on April 7, 2026. (Photo by Jakub Porzycki/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Vice-President Vance confident Iran will respond to deadline

9:35 a.m. ET: Vice-President J.D. Vance said he is confident Iran will respond to President Trump's deadline by 8 p.m. tonight.

"We feel confident that we can get a response, whether it is positive or negative, by 8 o’clock tonight," Vance said. "I hope they’re smart."

Vance spoke during a news conference in Budapest, saying the U.S. has already defeated Iran's military and now Iran is trying to "exact as much economic pain" on the world in response by keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed.

US military targets Kharg Island again

9:05 a.m. ET: United States airstrikes targeted Kharg Island overnight.

A White House official not authorized to speak publicly told the Associated Press the strikes came hours ahead of President Trump's 8 p.m. deadline for Iran to capitulate his demands.

The U.S. has previously targeted several sites on the island, including air defenses, a radar site, an airport and a hovercraft base, according to satellite analysis by the Institute for the Study of War and American Enterprise Institute's Critical Threats Project.

"A whole civilization will die tonight"

8:10 a.m. ET: President Trump takes to social media with a new threat to Iran, saying "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if his deadline is not met.

The president's deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz is set for 8 p.m. tonight.

President Trump via Truth Social

Iran threatens to cut off fuel ‘for years’ if Trump carries out threat

6:35 a.m. ET: Iran warned that it would deprive the U.S. and its allies of oil for years if President Trump carries out his threat to attack power plants and bridges if the Strait of Hormuz doesn't open.

Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard also issued a new threat to the Gulf Arab states.

"We have exercised great restraint and had considerations in choosing retaliatory targets, but from now on all these considerations have been removed," the warning read.

US gives Iran ultimatum

Dig deeper:

The president expanded his threat against Iran to include all power plants and bridges Monday as his ultimatum to make a deal ticked closer.

Tehran already rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the war.

"The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," Trump said. He suggested that his Tuesday 8 p.m. EDT deadline was final, saying he'd already given Iran enough extensions.

The U.S. has told Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic or see power plants and bridges wiped out, sparking warnings about possible war crimes.

Gas prices continue to climb

Big picture view:

Gas prices are continuing to climb as the war drives up crude oil costs, pushing prices higher at the pump nationwide.

The national average now stands at $4.11 per gallon, up about 86 cents from a month ago, according to AAA. Costs are climbing across nearly every region, with some states already well above the U.S. average.

On the West Coast, drivers are seeing the highest costs, with prices reaching $5.92 per gallon in California and $5.37 in Washington. Meanwhile, on the East Coast, gas prices have surpassed $4 in several areas, including $4.27 in Washington, D.C., and $4.06 in New York.

In the Midwest, Illinois stands out at $4.29 per gallon, while much of the region remains in the mid-$3 range. Southern states remain comparatively cheaper, though prices are rising there as well. Texas and South Carolina are both averaging about $3.82, while Florida is higher at $4.20.