Just over one month into the war on Iran, US President Donald Trump issued a stark warning on April 7, 2026, stating that if Iran did not immediately reopen the critical Strait of Hormuz, “a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again.” However, with two hours remaining before the deadline, Trump walked back the threat and announced a two-week ceasefire brokered by Islamabad.

This pattern of threatening Iran with severe consequences followed by signaling progress toward a deal has repeated multiple times. For example, on April 7, Trump said Washington was “very close to a deal” with Iran before threatening to destroy a “whole civilisation,” only to announce a ceasefire the next day.

Earlier in the conflict, two days after the first US attacks on Tehran on February 28, Trump acknowledged at the White House that the war might last longer than initially expected, stating, “We projected four to five weeks [to end Iran war], but we can go far longer than that.”

Negotiations have seen intermittent progress and setbacks. On May 23, Trump said the administration was “getting a lot closer” to a deal, which was “largely negotiated, [and] subject to finalisation.” However, by May 27, US strikes resumed after talks faltered.

On June 11, following two days of back-and-forth strikes, Trump threatened that the US would take “total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industries.

Throughout the conflict, Trump has repeatedly given Iran “one last chance” to make a deal or face consequences, raising alarms in Washington and Middle Eastern capitals alike.

Sources