WASHINGTON/MUSCAT/JERUSALEM – US President Donald Trump posted “Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time!” on social media on Sunday, a message that appeared to signal a possible extension of the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 21, Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the strait within 48 hours. Two days later, he postponed strikes on power plants for five days, claiming to have held “productive conversations” with Tehran.
On March 26, Trump again pushed the deadline back, saying that he will pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days, to April 6, the upcoming Monday at 8 pm Eastern Time. On Saturday, Trump reaffirmed that Iran has 48 hours to strike a deal on opening up the strait or face “Hell.”
However, in the post on Sunday, Trump appeared to hint at extending the deadline for Iran to reopen the strait for another time.
In a post earlier Sunday, the US president threatened that Tuesday would be “Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one” for Iran, and again urged Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
In an interview with The Wall Street Journal on Sunday, Trump threatened to destroy all of Iran’s power plants if the country’s leaders don’t agree to reopen the strait by Tuesday evening.
“If they don’t come through, if they want to keep it closed, they’re going to lose every power plant and every other plant they have in the whole country,” Trump said.
In a phone interview with Fox, Trump said that a deal to end the conflict in Iran could be reached by Monday.
However, Trump’s optimism does not seem to be echoed by the other side. Iran has rejected a US proposal for a 48-hour ceasefire, which was recently sent through one of its “friendly countries,” the semi-official Fars news agency reported Friday, citing a source.
Also on Sunday, Trump told Israeli media Channel 12 that the United States is engaged in “deep” negotiations with Iran to secure a ceasefire, while stressing that Washington will not “leave in the middle” of the conflict.
Trump said his administration is maintaining contacts with Iran through multiple channels, led by his advisors Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.
According to sources briefed on the talks, communication is being conducted through two tracks: indirect contacts mediated by Pakistan, Egypt and Türkiye, and direct exchanges between US envoys and Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi.
The mediating countries are seeking to help both sides agree on measures that could allow an extension of the US-imposed deadline, the sources said, adding that recent phone calls between the parties have not yielded significant progress.
Trump told Channel 12 that there is “a good chance” that a deal could be reached before Tuesday’s “deadline”, but warned that failure to do so would prompt the United States to take “strong” action in the region.
Oman, Iran discuss Hormuz Strait security
Meanwhile, Oman and Iran held a meeting to discuss possible options to ensure the smooth flow of navigation through the Strait of Hormuz amid current regional tensions, Oman’s Foreign Ministry said on Sunday.
Oman’s Foreign Ministry said in a post on X that the two countries held a meeting on Saturday at the level of deputy ministers in the foreign ministries of the two countries, attended by specialists from both sides.
During the meeting, experts from both sides presented a range of views and proposals, which will be further studied, said the ministry.
The talks come amid ongoing escalation in the region following exchanges of attacks involving Iran, the United States, and Israel, which have raised concerns over maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz.
Israel’s Haifa struck
Four people were missing and four others injured after a missile from Iran struck a residential building in Haifa, a city in northern Israel, police said on Sunday.
The wounded included an 82-year-old man and three others with minor injuries, among them a 10-month-old baby injured by shrapnel, according to local rescue services.
The attack caused heavy damage to the building, with one of its facades collapsing, according to photos from the scene.
The missile was part of several barrages fired toward northern and southern Israel in the evening, triggering air raid sirens across the regions.
Police said four people remained unaccounted for and that search operations were underway.
The attack came as the Middle East was engulfed in violence following a joint US-Israeli strike on Iran on Feb 28.