Donald Trump has said he is "not at all" concerned about committing possible war crimes as he again threatened to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants if Tehran does not meet his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
“The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” the US president told a news conference on Monday at the White House.
Trump has given Tuesday at 8pm Washington time as his supposed final deadline for Iran to make a deal before the US begins striking key infrastructure. He reconfirmed this ultimatum during the press conference, but after issuing at least four prior deadlines, questions have been raised over his latest threat.
The president earlier claimed Iranians “want to hear bombs because they want to be free” in his latest bizarre rant as he stood next to the Easter Bunny at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
Meanwhile, Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the conflict. Airstrikes from both sides continued into Tuesday, with Iran accusing Israeli and US strikes of flattening a synagogue in Tehran.
Key Points
- Trump warns Iran tomorrow might be when 'entire country is taken out'
- Israel airstrike destroys synagogue in Tehran
- Trump 'not at all' concerned about war crimes as he threatens destruction of Iran’s bridges and power plants
- Iran’s supreme leader warns 'assassinations and crimes' won't disrupt armed forces
- Trump claims Iranians 'want to hear bombs go off'
Watch: Trump claims Iranians 'want to hear bombs' go off as 'they want to be free' in bizarre new rant
05:00 , Rachel DobkinUS President Donald Trump has claimed Iranians “want to hear bombs” go off as “they want to be free” in a bizarre new rant.
Trump said Iran has killed 45,000 of its own people who protested against the government. That number has not been verified.
Iran drone strike kills two in Iraq
04:45 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarTwo people were killed in the Kurdish region of Iraq after a home was hit by a drone that authorities said had been launched from Iran.
The drone hit the home in the village of Zargazawi in Irbil province early this morning, the Counter Terrorism Directorate of the northern Kurdish region said in a statement. Officials condemned the attack, calling it a violation of international law.
The strike came as Iranian forces and allied militias targeted areas across northern Kurdistan with a wave of drones, rockets and missiles.
Fire erupts at Saudi Arabia’s industrial hub after drone strike
04:30 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarFire erupted at Saudi Arabia's Al Jubail industrial city after it was struck by Iranian missiles and drones, according to reports.
Ballistic missiles struck Al Jubail's eastern province, triggering large fires at petrochemical facilities, according to visuals shared by the Fars news agency, which has ties to Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps.
People walk among buildings destroyed in a joint attack by Israel and the UN in Tehran
04:21 , Alisha Rahaman Sarkar
Oil at $110 per barrel
04:15 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarGlobal stocks wavered this morning, while oil prices were perched near $110 per barrel as the prospect of escalation in the war in the Middle East and the looming deadline for a deal to be reached kept nervous investors on the sidelines.
Brent crude futures rose 0.4 per cent to $110.19 a barrel while US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 0.8 per cent to $113.31.
Israel airstrike destroys synagogue in Tehran
04:14 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarIsraeli airstrikes have flattened a synagogue in central Tehran, the semi-official Mehr news agency reported this morning.
Iran has been home to Jewish people for thousands of years. Up to 15,000 Jews still live in Iran, mostly concentrated in Tehran with smaller communities in Isfahan and Shiraz, according to Times of Israel.
Filipino woman killed in missile attack in Israel
04:00 , Alisha Rahaman SarkarThe Philippine government said a Filipino national was killed in a missile attack in the northern Israeli port city of Haifa over the weekend.
The foreign ministry in Manila did not immediately identify the citizen but said she was killed with her Israeli husband and parents-in-law in a residential area in Haifa on Sunday.
On 28 February, a Filipino caregiver, Mary Ann de Vera, was killed in a missile strike in Tel Aviv while helping bring her charge to a bomb shelter in the first known Philippine casualty of the war in the Middle East. About 30,000 Filipinos live in Israel and work mostly as caregivers.
UN to vote on Bahrain's proposal to protect ships in Strait of Hormuz
03:45 , Rachel DobkinThe United Nations Security Council is set to vote on Bahrain's draft resolution to protect commercial ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran has effectively closed the Middle Eastern waterway that carries about a fifth of the world’s oil as the US and Israel continue strikes against the country.
A version of the resolution that Reuters obtained and reported on early Tuesday morning, “strongly encourages States interested in the use of commercial maritime routes in the Strait of Hormuz to coordinate efforts, defensive in nature, commensurate to the circumstances, to contribute to ensuring the safety and security of navigation across the Strait of Hormuz”.
Securing the strait would include escorting commercial ships through the waterway, according to the proposal.
How US commandos carried out 36-hour mission to rescue airman from deep inside Iranian mountains
03:30 , Tara CobhamUS special forces carried out a daring rescue mission to bring back an airman stranded 200 miles behind enemy lines after Iran shot down a $31m fighter jet on Friday.
Donald Trump said on Sunday that dozens of military aircraft had raced to rescue the missing weapons-system officer of a two-seat F-15E after the pilot ejected and was rescued under fire.
The president said that the injured second airman was stuck “in the treacherous mountains of Iran, being hunted down by our enemies, who were getting closer and closer by the hour”.
Read more here:
How US commandos rescued airman trapped in Iran in ‘daring’ operation
Prediction market says there's 100% chance US forces enter Iran by end of month
03:00 , Rachel DobkinPeople on Polymarket, which describes itself as the world’s largest prediction market, have bet there's a 100 per cent chance US forces enter Iran by the end of the month.
The US military campaign against Iran is in its sixth week with no end in sight. There have already been thousands of US troops deployed to the region.
US President Donald Trump has ramped up his threats against the Middle Eastern country, saying that Iran “can be taken out in one night” if they don’t reach a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical oil waterway, by Tuesday night, Washington time.
Watch: Trump compares Starmer to Neville Chamberlain in latest shot at UK
02:30 , Tara CobhamTwo killed in Iranian strike in Iraq: report
02:00 , Rachel DobkinTwo people have been killed in Iraq’s Irbil province after a home was struck by a drone, the Associated Press reported.
Authorities said Iran was behind the attack, per the AP.
CENTCOM says it has struck over 13,000 targets in Iran war
01:30 , Rachel DobkinUS Central Command has said it has struck more than 13,000 targets since the Iran war began more than five weeks ago.
More than 155 Iranian vessels have been damaged or destroyed in the military campaign dubbed “Operation Epic Fury”.
The US has been attacking Iranian command and control centers, ballistic missile sites and weapons production and storage bunkers, to name a few targets.
Hegseth draws parallels between story of Easter and rescued airman
01:00 , Tara CobhamThe US defence secretary, who has frequently infused his leadership of the Pentagon with references to Christianity and the language of his faith, said the airman who evaded capture for more than a day was shot down on Good Friday, "hidden in a cave" on Saturday, and on Easter Sunday, "a pilot reborn, all home and accounted for."
Pete Hegseth said that when the airman was finally able to activate an emergency transponder, his first transmitted message was: "God is good."
At least 49 civilians killed and dozens more injured in last 24 hours of Iran war: report
Tuesday 7 April 2026 00:30 , Rachel DobkinAt least 49 civilians have been killed and dozens more injured in the last 24 hours of the Iran war, according to the Human Rights Activists News Agency.
HRANA recorded at least 573 attacks in 20 Iranian provinces in the last 24 hours as of Monday night.
Along with the nearly 50 civilians who are now dead, another 58 were wounded, according to HRANA, which said the latest wave of strikes from the U.S. and Israel marks the highest rate of attacks in the past ten days.
Watch: US airman’s ‘powerful’ first words after being shot down in Iran revealed
Tuesday 7 April 2026 00:00 , Tara CobhamTrump says it would take 4 hours to destroy Iran's bridges and power plants
Monday 6 April 2026 23:40 , Tara CobhamThe president described the consequences that Iran would face if it didn't reach a deal with the US by Trump's 8pm Tuesday deadline.
"We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night," Trump said during his Monday news conference.
Power plants in Iran, he continued, would be "burning, exploding and never to be used again."
Equities gain and oil settles higher as investors watch US-Iran standoff
Monday 6 April 2026 23:20 , Tara CobhamUS equity indexes closed modestly higher and US oil futures settled above $112 per barrel on Monday as investors waited for clarity on the prospects of a resolution to the war in the Middle East.
The US and Iran exchanged verbal attacks while President Donald Trump reiterated threats to strike Iran unless Tehran makes a deal by Tuesday night.
Watch: Trump says the US has won in Iran and could charge tolls for Strait of Hormuz
Monday 6 April 2026 23:00 , Tara CobhamTrump warns US could send Iran ‘back to the stone ages’ if deadline not met
Monday 6 April 2026 22:40 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has threatened to send Iran “back to the stone ages” with a barrage of attacks on civilian targets if his final deadline to make a deal on opening the Strait of Hormuz is not met.
Speaking at a press conference at the White House on Monday, the US president reconfirmed his supposed final ultimatum of Tuesday at 8pm Washington time (1am UK time) for Iran to make a deal.
He said the US plans to "decimate” every bridge in Iran by midnight Washington time (5am UK time) on Wednesday, "where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again”.
Read the full story here:
Trump warns US could send Iran ‘back to the stone ages’ if deadline not met
Airport in Iran's Kashan under renewed attack, local official says
Monday 6 April 2026 22:20 , Tara CobhamThe airport in Iran’s central city of Kashan has come under renewed attack, the local deputy governor has told state media.
Iran's top joint military command calls Trump's threats 'delusional'
Monday 6 April 2026 22:03 , Tara CobhamIran’s top joint military command has called Donald Trump’s threats “delusional”.
It added that the US president’s threats will not make up for the “humiliation and disgrace” America has faced in the Middle East.
Iran's supreme leader issues a rare public statement
Monday 6 April 2026 21:40 , Tara CobhamAyatollah Mojtaba Khamenei expressed condolences over the killing of the Revolutionary Guard's intelligence chief.
In a written social media post, Khamenei said Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi joined a "steadfast line of warriors and fighters" to sacrifice their lives. Israeli strikes have killed dozens of top Iranian leaders, including Khamenei's father.
The younger Khamenei has not been seen or spoken in public since he succeeded his father as supreme leader.
Israeli military is preparing for weeks of battle against Iran
Monday 6 April 2026 21:20 , Tara CobhamThe Israeli military's chief spokesman, Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin, says the army's chief has approved battle plans for the next three weeks in the absence of a ceasefire.
"Every day that passes, we hit them more and more. Already we have very good achievements, and we want to reach excellent achievements," he told a press conference Monday.
UN chief warns the US not to strike Iran's civilian infrastructure
Monday 6 April 2026 21:00 , Tara CobhamUN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the US that attacking civilian infrastructure is banned under international law, his spokesman said Monday.
"Even if specific civilian infrastructure were to qualify as a military objective," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said, an attack would still be prohibited if it risks "excessive incidental civilian harm."
A court would need to decide whether such attacks were war crimes, he said.
Trump dismisses that his threatened attacks on Iran's infrastructure would be war crimes
Trump says he's "not at all" concerned about committing war crimes as he continues to threaten the destruction of Iran's bridges and power plants if they don't meet a Tuesday evening deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
"I hope I don't have to do it," Trump added.
Risky rescue of US crew downed in Iran relied on dozens of aircraft and subterfuge, Trump says
Monday 6 April 2026 20:43 , Tara CobhamThe US relied on dozens of aircraft, hundreds of personnel, secret CIA technology and a dose of subterfuge to rescue a two-man F-15E fighter jet crew downed deep inside Iran, a risky mission that President Donald Trump and his top defence aides detailed Monday.
US forces rescued the pilot within hours of the jet going down late Thursday, surging helicopters, midair refuelers and fighter aircraft deep into Iran after confirming his location, Trump said in a valedictory news conference at the White House, describing the military operation in an unusual level of detail. The second aviator aboard the aircraft – the weapons systems officer – was rescued nearly two days later.
An A-10 Warthog, which was the attack aircraft primarily responsible for keeping in contact with the downed pilot on the ground, was hit by enemy fire while engaging Iranian forces, said Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
The A-10 was "not landable," Caine told reporters, but the pilot continued fighting before flying to a friendly country and ejecting. He was quickly rescued and is doing fine, Caine said.
The rescue of the F-15 pilot occurred before the Iranians could marshal a comprehensive search of their own, but finding and bringing home the weapon systems officer was an even more complicated endeavour.
The officer, who rode in the backseat of the F-15 flying under the call sign Dude-44 Bravo, was injured but followed his training to get as far from the crash site as possible. He managed to climb mountainous terrain and hide inside a cave or crevice. He contacted US forces on Saturday.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the spy agency used "exquisite technologies that no other intelligence service" possesses to locate the aviator. At the same time, the CIA mounted a deception operation to mislead Iranians who also were trying to find him.
Ratcliffe said the search and rescue operation was "comparable to hunting for a single grain of sand in the middle of a desert."
Protected by an "air armada" of drones, strike aircraft and more, rescuers moved in on Sunday to pick up the weapons officer and bring him home.
Many of the dozens of aircraft that were part of the operation were there for deception, Trump said. "We were bringing them all over, and a lot of it was subterfuge," he said. "We wanted to have them think he was in a different location."
Back in Washington, national security officials coordinated on a call, keeping the phone line open for nearly two days straight.
"From the moment our pilots went down, our mission was unblinking," Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said. "The call never dropped. The meeting never stopped, the planning never ceased."
Four Iranian officers killed on Sunday in operation to counter US aircraft, news agency reports
Monday 6 April 2026 20:29 , Tara CobhamFour officers of the Iranian Army ground forces were killed on Sunday in a military operation to counter US aircraft in Iran's Isfahan, the semi-official Fars news agency said on Monday.
Trump raps Nato, South Korea, Australia and Japan for not helping with Iran war
Monday 6 April 2026 19:52 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has criticised Nato, Australia, Japan and South Korea for not helping the US with its war with Iran.
He made his remarks during a White House press conference.
Trump 'not at all' concerned about war crimes as he threatens destruction of Iran’s bridges and power plants
Monday 6 April 2026 19:36 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said he is “not at all” concerned about war crimes as he threatens destruction of Iran’s bridges and power plants.
'I'm a businessman first': Trump attempts to defend calls to seize Iran's natural resources
Monday 6 April 2026 19:34 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said “I’m a businessman first” as he attempted to defend his repeated calls for the US to seize Iran’s natural resources.
Watch: Trump gives rambling account of Iran war rescue
Monday 6 April 2026 19:32 , Tara CobhamTrump calls Nato a 'paper tiger' that Putin is 'not afraid of'
Monday 6 April 2026 19:31 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has called Nato a “paper tiger”.
He said that Russian president Vladimir Putin “is not afraid of Nato. Putin's afraid of us, very afraid of us.”
'We have to have a deal that's acceptable to me,' Trump says
Monday 6 April 2026 19:28 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said there has to be a deal “acceptable to me” between the US and Iran by his Tuesday deadline.
Trump promises strikes on Iran's civilian infrastructure if Tehran doesn't capitulate by deadline
Monday 6 April 2026 19:27 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has promised strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran does not capitulate by 8pm Eastern time on Tuesday.
Trump says he is 'very disappointed' in Nato
Monday 6 April 2026 19:20 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said he is “very disappointed” in Nato.
He told reporters: “I have to tell you, I'm very disappointed in Nato.”
Trump says he extended deadline for Iran to be a 'nice person' for Easter
Monday 6 April 2026 19:17 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said he decided to extend the deadline he gave Iran to 10 days because he wanted “to be a nice person” for Easter.
“I gave them an extension,” he said. “They asked for an extension of seven days, right? I said, ‘Steve, give them 10 days.’ 10 days is up, actually, today, so I gave them 11, I guess indirectly. I thought it was inappropriate the day after Easter. I want to be a nice person.”
Trump says US has 'active and willing participant' in Iran talks
Monday 6 April 2026 19:13 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said the US has an “active and willing participant” in Iran talks.
Trump calls on Iranians to rise up against their regime
Monday 6 April 2026 18:58 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has called on Iranians to rise up against their regime.
He told reporters: “Iranians should rise up against the regime.”
Hegseth warns Monday will be largest volume of strikes against Iran
Monday 6 April 2026 18:55 , Tara CobhamUS defence secretary Pete Hegseth told reporters that the largest volume of strikes since day one of the operation against Iran would take place on Monday and warned that Tuesday would have even more.
The multiple deadlines Trump has issued to Iran over Strait of Hormuz
Monday 6 April 2026 18:54 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has issued multiple deadlines to Iran over the Strait of Hormuz, raising questions about his threats issued over the latest ultimatum.
Here are the at least four deadlines the US president has so far given:
- 21 March: Trump gives Iran 48 hours to reopen the Strait
- 23 March: Trump applies a five-day pause to the deadline
- 26 March: Trump extends his ultimatum by 10 days to 6 April
- 5 April: Trump pushes the deadline again, this time to his supposed final deadline of 7 April at 8pm Washington time
Trump threatens jail for person who leaked information on rescue operation in Iran
Monday 6 April 2026 18:32 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has threatened jail for the person who reported on the rescue operation in Iran, citing national security.
He said he would ask the media organisation for the name of the person who leaked information on the mission.
US military personnel faced gunfire 'at very close range' during rescue mission in Iran
Monday 6 April 2026 18:18 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said US military personnel faced gunfire “at very close range” during the rescue mission in Iran.
He added that the second rescue mission involved 155 aircraft.
Trump says America is doing 'unbelievably well' in war against Iran
Monday 6 April 2026 18:16 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has said America is doing “unbelievably well” in its war against Iran.
The US president told reporters: “In Operation Epic Fury, where we're doing unbelievably well, well at a level that nobody's ever seen before.”
Trump warns Iran tomorrow might be when 'entire country is taken out'
Monday 6 April 2026 18:14 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has warned Iran that tomorrow might be the night the “entire country“ is “taken out”.
The US president told reporters at a press conference: “The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night.”
US president describes downed military personnel rescue as 'historic'
Monday 6 April 2026 18:12 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has described the rescue of the downed US military personnel in Iran as “very historic”.
He added: “It will go down in the history books.”
Trump's press conference gets underway
Monday 6 April 2026 18:09 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump’s press conference has just got underway.
He began by wishing reporters “Happy Easter”.
Trump about to begin press conference
Monday 6 April 2026 18:04 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump is about to give a press conference on the rescue of the military personnel who were saved after their fighter jet was downed in Iran last week.
Watch live: Trump press conference on rescue of downed military personnel in Iran
Monday 6 April 2026 17:56 , Tara CobhamIran’s supreme leader warns 'assassinations and crimes' won't disrupt armed forces
Monday 6 April 2026 17:41 , Tara CobhamIran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei has warned that “assassinations and crimes” won’t disrupt Iranian armed forces in a post on Telegram.
Rules of war must be respected in words and action, ICRC president says
Monday 6 April 2026 17:39 , Tara CobhamThe president of the International Committee of the Red Cross on Monday urged governments to respect the rules of war in word and deed after US President Donald Trump ratcheted up his rhetoric against Iran by threatening to rain down "hell" on Tehran.
"States must respect and ensure respect for the rules of war in both what they say and what they do," Mirjana Spoljaric said in a statement. "The world cannot succumb to a political culture that prioritises death over life."
She also said deliberate threats, in rhetoric or action, against essential civilian infrastructure and nuclear facilities must not become the new norm in warfare.
The ICRC statement referred to hostilities in the Middle East but did not name any governments.
Trump’s White House Easter event gets weird as Trump focuses on Iran war and shows off his arch plans
Monday 6 April 2026 17:34 , Tara CobhamPresident Donald Trump’s appearance at the White House’s annual family-oriented Easter celebration took a bizarre turn on Monday as he regaled an audience of young children and their parents about the U.S. military’s purported successes in Iran and claimed the Iranian people are unhappy when not being attacked by American bombs.
Speaking to attendees at the White House annual Easter Egg Roll alongside the Easter Bunny — typically a low-level White House staffer in costume — Trump called the yearly South Lawn celebration “a special day” to “celebrate Jesus” and “celebrate religion” before pivoting to boasting of how the country has “broken every record in our military” and praising U.S. forces of successfully rescuing a downed F-15 pilot who’d been forced to eject from his fighter over Iran last week.
“I just want to say we have a great military. We're the greatest military, the most powerful military any place in the world. You saw what happened with Venezuela, and it's an honor. I built it in my first term, and I didn't know I was going to be using it this much in my second term, but it's my honor,” Trump said.
White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
Trump’s White House Easter event turns to impromptu Iran presser
Trump calls Americans ‘foolish’ for opposing Iran war as children’s Easter Egg roll gets political
Monday 6 April 2026 17:15 , Tara Cobham
Trump claims Iranians 'want to hear bombs go off'
Monday 6 April 2026 16:26 , Tara CobhamDonald Trump has claimed Iranians “want to hear bombs go off”.
Speaking at the White House Easter Egg Roll on Monday morning, the US president said: “The Iranian people, when they don't hear bombs go off, they're upset. They want to hear bombs because they want to be free.
“And the only reason they're not out protesting is because they were informed that if they protest like the wrestler and his friends they will be shot immediately.”
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Iran rejects ceasefire in response to proposals and emphasises need for permanent end to war, IRNA reports
Monday 6 April 2026 16:10 , Tara CobhamIran has conveyed its response to the US proposal for ending the war to Pakistan, rejecting a ceasefire and emphasising the necessity of a permanent end to the war, the official IRNA news agency said on Monday.
Iran's response consists of ten clauses, including an end to conflicts in the region, a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting of sanctions, and reconstruction, the agency added.
Iran sent a 10-point response to end war, official says
Monday 6 April 2026 15:44 , James ReynoldsIran sent the US a 10-point response for the proposal to end the war on Monday, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid, citing an unnamed US official.
The official reportedly said the response was "maximalist". It was unclear if it would allow moving forward to a diplomatic solution, Ravid reports.
