Trump: Iran Can Be ‘Taken Out in One Night’ He doubles down on threats to destroy infrastructure

President Trump said Monday that he is not worried about accusations of war crimes as he continues to warn Iran about possible military action if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened by a Tuesday evening deadline.

Speaking at a news conference, Trump said the United States has the capability to destroy key Iranian infrastructure quickly if necessary. He stated that the entire country could be taken out in a single night and suggested that such an operation could happen as soon as the next evening if Iran does not comply.

Trump repeated his warning that Iran’s infrastructure could be heavily targeted. He said power plants across the country could be destroyed and that bridges could be eliminated within hours if the United States chose to carry out the strikes. At the same time, he said he still prefers a negotiated solution and indicated he would be open to reaching a deal with Iran.

When asked whether civilian locations would be excluded from potential strikes, Trump did not give a clear answer.

He said the United States does not want to destroy Iran but warned that it could happen quickly if Iran refuses to reopen the strait. Trump also suggested that if the conflict ended, the United States could even assist Iran with rebuilding.

During the press conference, Trump claimed that some Iranian citizens support strong U.S. action against their government. He said American officials had heard intercepted communications in which Iranians encouraged continued bombing in hopes it would eventually bring them freedom, even though they were living in areas where strikes were occurring.

Trump also responded to critics who questioned his mental health after a recent post on Truth Social in which he used harsh language toward Iran and demanded the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He dismissed those concerns, saying he had not heard the criticism and arguing that the United States had been taken advantage of for years before he took office.

The president also discussed a recent operation to rescue a U.S. airman in Iran. Trump said the mission was controversial within parts of the military and that some personnel believed the rescue should not have been attempted. However, he emphasized that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Gen. Dan Caine, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, supported the operation.

Hegseth later compared the rescue mission to the story of Easter. He said the airman was shot down on Good Friday, remained hidden in a cave on Saturday, and was rescued on Sunday morning as the sun rose on Easter. He described the pilot as being “reborn” after returning home safely.

Trump also addressed the leak of information about the search for the downed F-15 weapons officer. He said the journalist who first reported the story could face jail time if they refuse to reveal their sources. Trump argued that the leak alerted Iranian forces and put the officer and the rescue team in danger. He called the person responsible for the leak “a sick person.”

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