Trump says, ‘Iran can be taken out in one night, might be Tuesday night’
Trump had earlier said Tuesday is the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz after which the US military will start attacking Tehran's power plants.
US President Donald Trump, during his address on Iran war on Monday, said that “Entire country can be taken in one night, that can be tomorrow night,” ahead of the Tuesday deadline for attacking Iran’s energy plants.
The US president had earlier stepped up his threat to target Iran’s energy infrastructure if the Islamic nation doesn’t reopens the Strait of Hormuz and negotiates a ceasefire deal by his deadline which is on Tuesday. Trump has asked Tehran to agree to give up nuclear weapons and reopen the Strait of Hormuz oil transit waterway.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night. I hope I don’t have to do it,” Trump told a White House press conference.
When pointed out by reporters that if he would by committing war crimes if the Washington attacked Iran’s civilian power plants, Trump dismissed the claims and said, “I’m not worried about it. You know what’s a war crime? Having a nuclear weapon.”
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 5, 2026
In a post on Truth Social, Trump had said that Tuesday will be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran.”
Rescue operation
Providing details of a US F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jet being shot by Iranian military, Trump said the rescue of a “seriously wounded and really brave” US service member was carried out successfully. The US president added that the rescue was a rarely attempted type of operation because of the potential dangers.
The airman, identified only by “Dude 44 Bravo,” kept climbing higher after hiding in mountainous Iranian terrain in order to improve the chances for recovery. Trump said the airman was seen moving through an unidentified US camera link. “It was like finding a needle in a haystack,” Trump said.
.@POTUS: “This is a critical period… We’re giving them until tomorrow, 8:00 pm Eastern Time — and after that, they’re going to have no bridges. They’re going to have no power plants. Stone ages.” pic.twitter.com/Ka2NdHScMu
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) April 6, 2026
Trump further added that hundreds of US forces were involved in the rescue mission and to prevent Iranians from finding the airman first. Trump earlier said that a second US crew member was rescued by forces earlier in “broad daylight” after seven hours over Iran.
During the briefing, CIA Director John Ratcliffe also detailed about the US rescue mission and said the agency had engaged in a “deception campaign” to convince Tehran that the airman was somewhere else. The pilot, whose fighter jet was shot down on Friday, was recovered on Sunday morning.
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“CIA got confirmation that one of America’s best and bravest was alive and concealed in a mountain crevice, still invisible to the enemy, but not to the CIA,” Ratcliffe added.
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