Trump threatens Iran – so many times he has swung

TT

Published 19.20

            

           Donald Trump photographed with a long exposure during his speech on April 1. Photo: Alex                       Brandon/AP/TT

Donald Trump is again threatening to bomb Iran's energy facilities if the country does not open the Strait of Hormuz by a certain date.

Here are all the times the US president has swung and extended his deadline, according to CNN.

+ March 21. Just under a month after the US and Israel's initial attacks on Iran, Trump promised that the US would "attack and destroy" Iran's power plants – a war crime, according to many observers – if the regime did not give free rein to ships to pass in and out of the Persian Gulf oil ports through the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Iran responded to a UN representative that the strait was open to everyone except "enemies".

+ March 23. Shortly before the deadline expired, Trump stated that constructive negotiations had been held and gave Iran five more days.

+ March 26. Trump added ten days to his deadline, to April 6, and stated that Iran had asked for more time.

+ April 1. Trump claims that Iran has asked the US for a ceasefire, but that he would only consider it if Iran opens the strait. This is denied by Iran. Two days later, he claims that the US could easily open the strait if they only had “a little more time”.

+ April 4. Trump writes on social media that Iran has “48 hours before all hell breaks loose”.

+ April 5. Trump writes an angry post on social media: “Open the fucking strait, you crazy bastards, or you will live in hell”. He follows it up with what can be interpreted as a fixed deadline: "Tuesday, 8 pm, East Coast time" – two o'clock in the morning on Wednesday, April 8, Swedish time.