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US President Donald Trump has once again extended his deadline for Iran to reach an agreement on the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, setting a new ultimatum for Tuesday at 8pm Eastern Time (00:00 GMT Wednesday). The announcement, made in a sparse post on his Truth Social platform, came as the war between the US-Israel coalition and Iran entered its sixth week with no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough.

The extension marks the latest in a series of deadline shifts that have characterized Trump's approach to the conflict since the US and Israel launched military operations against Iran on February 28. The president's post did not specify a new ultimatum beyond the time, but his earlier threats — including the "complete demolition" of Iran's power plants and bridges — remain in force.

Coverage comparison

Reporting on the deadline and its implications varies significantly across outlets, reflecting differences in regional perspectives and editorial stances. Al Jazeera's coverage emphasizes the escalating rhetoric, quoting Trump's threat that a "whole civilisation will die tonight" and highlighting statements from critics who label his language "horrific" and "disqualifying." The outlet also notes that Iran's military has dismissed the threats as "delusional," arguing they cannot mask US "disgrace and humiliation."

The Jerusalem Post, meanwhile, focuses on the strategic implications of the deadline, with one editorial arguing that Iran is "outmanned, outgunned, and outclassed" and that continued military pressure is necessary. Another Jerusalem Post article cites The Wall Street Journal reporting that the negotiation gap is "too wide" to be bridged by the deadline, with US officials privately pessimistic about Iran's willingness to meet Trump's demands.

South China Morning Post coverage highlights the role of Pakistani mediation, quoting Iran's ambassador to Pakistan, Reza Amiri Moghadam, who described Islamabad's efforts as "approaching a critical, sensitive stage." The outlet also reports analysts' warnings that without a powerful guarantor, any agreement risks becoming "just another broken promise."

The Hindu provides a detailed timeline of Trump's shifting deadlines, noting that he has oscillated between heated threats and proclamations that negotiations were "going very well." The paper also quotes UN Secretary-General António Guterres warning that attacks on civilian infrastructure are banned under international law, and Trump's response that he is "not at all" concerned about committing war crimes.

TASS, the Russian state news agency, reports that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has urged Trump against concessions, citing Axios. The agency also notes that Saudi Arabia and the UAE similarly urged Washington to maintain a hard line on the Strait of Hormuz.

Key claims

  • Trump has extended his deadline for Iran to make a deal on the Strait of Hormuz for the third time since the war began, with the latest extension to Tuesday 8pm Eastern Time, according to multiple reports.
  • Trump threatened the "complete demolition" of Iran's power plants and bridges if no deal is reached, as quoted in several outlets.
  • Iran has rejected a US proposal for a temporary ceasefire, arguing it would give the US and Israel time to regroup, according to Al Jazeera and other sources.
  • Iran has put forward a 10-point proposal calling for a permanent end to the war, including lifting sanctions and establishing a new order in the Strait of Hormuz, per TASS and Al Jazeera.
  • The IAEA chief said attacks near Iran's Bushehr atomic power plant "pose a very real danger to nuclear safety and must stop," as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • The US military rescued two airmen from inside Iran in an operation involving more than 170 aircraft and hundreds of special forces troops, according to US officials cited by Al Jazeera and other outlets.

Perspectives

The conflict has drawn sharply divergent reactions. Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, have expressed full support for Trump's blockade and the campaign against Iran. Netanyahu told reporters he is in "constant coordination" with Washington, while also comparing Iranian nuclear facilities to Holocaust camps — a statement reported by the Jerusalem Post. An editorial in the same outlet argues that the US and Israel should continue degrading Iran's capabilities until it negotiates as the weaker side.

In contrast, critics have condemned Trump's threats. Yasmine Taeb, legislative and political director for MPower Change Action Fund, described them as "horrific," "pure evil," and "disqualifying," and called for a stronger reaction from US lawmakers and the international community, as quoted by Al Jazeera.

Iranian officials have remained defiant, dismissing Trump's threats as "delusional" and rejecting the US ceasefire proposal. The head of Iran's diplomatic mission in Cairo, Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, said Iran no longer trusts the Trump administration after being bombed twice during previous rounds of talks, according to The Hindu.

Regional actors are also affected. The UAE and Saudi Arabia have reported intercepting missiles and drones from Iran, while Bahrain's King Fahd Causeway was indefinitely closed over fears of attacks. South Korea plans to send five ships to Saudi Arabia's Red Sea port of Yanbu as an alternative oil route, and Chinese President Xi Jinping has called for accelerated construction of a new energy system in response to global fuel price shocks.

Analysts have cautioned that without a powerful guarantor, any agreement may fail. They also note that Trump could extend the deadline again, as he has done repeatedly. A regional official involved in talks told The Hindu that efforts had not collapsed, but the trust deficit remains a significant obstacle.