US President Donald Trump threatened to bomb Iran "to Hell" while simultaneously claiming there is a "good chance" of reaching a ceasefire deal soon. His statements came after a second US airman was rescued. Trump told Fox News: "I think there is a good chance tomorrow, they are negotiating now," adding that if no deal is made fast, he is "considering blowing everything up and taking over the oil."
Trump also posted an expletive-laden warning on his Truth Social platform, threatening to strike power plants and bridges in Iran. He vowed the "crazy bastards" would be "living in Hell" if the crucial trade waterway, the Strait of Hormuz, is not opened by Tuesday. Trump has issued such deadlines before but extended them when mediators allegedly claimed progress toward ending the war.
Iran, however, has so far remained defiant, showing no sign of backing down. The country has continued to fire missiles and drones targeting US interests and key energy infrastructure across the Gulf region. Iranian authorities cut off the internet at the war's start, resulting in a 37-day blackout, recorded as the longest nation-scale internet shutdown.
OPEC+ oil cartel members, against the backdrop of war intensifying global energy security concerns, agreed to raise oil production quotas for May by 206,000 barrels per day. However, whether they can truly ramp up production remains dubious, as the Iran war and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have severely strained the alliance’s production capacity. The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively blocked since the conflict began, with far-reaching consequences for the global economy and energy supplies.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz threatened to go after Iran’s leaders and target the country’s strategic assets. In a video statement, he said: "As long as missile fire continues to target Israeli civilians, Iran will pay a heavy price that will degrade and ultimately cripple its national infrastructure and the operational capacity of the regime." This came after Iran claimed attacks on energy facilities in Israel and Gulf states.
Other developments: Iranian and Omani officials discussed options for ensuring safe ship passage through the Strait of Hormuz; Iranian drones struck government and energy facilities in Kuwait, causing fires; Egypt’s foreign minister held separate phone calls with mediators to discuss de-escalation; the Borouge petrochemical plant in the UAE suspended operations after attacks; Iran’s Revolutionary Guards claimed to have destroyed US and Israeli aircraft; Israel struck Hezbollah targets in Beirut, expanding the regional conflict.
Source: www.dw.com