By JON GAMBRELL and AAMER MADHANI Associated Press
U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday he has called off new military strikes on Iran, hours after threatening to escalate the war. Trump had threatened major strikes on Iran and to seize control of its oil and gas industries as escalating attacks between the countries pushed the Middle East closer to full-scale war. The threats to seize Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal came after the U.S and Iran traded strikes for a second straight day. Trump told Fox News that while he would prefer to take over Kharg Island, he's not sure that "America has the stomach for it." Iran's parliamentary speaker warned on social media that an "endless quagmire" could result.
By BASSEM MROUE, JON GAMBRELL, MIKE CORDER and SAMY MAGDY Associated Press
U.S. President Donald Trump is threatening that a "whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran fails to meet his latest deadline to strike a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Trump's expansive threat did not seem to account for potential harm to civilians. It prompted Democrats in Congress, some United Nations officials and scholars in military law to say such strikes would violate international law. Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic urged young people to form human chains around power plants and other potential targets. The president insisted the deadline is final and will expire at 8 p.m. in Washington. Pakistan's prime minister urged Trump to extend his deadline for Iran by two weeks, to allow diplomacy to advance.
By JON GAMBRELL, SAMY MAGDY, BASSEM MROUE and WILL WEISSERT Associated Press
President Donald Trump has expanded his threat against Iran to include all power plants and bridges as his Tuesday ultimatum approaches. This comes after Tehran on Monday rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, demanding a permanent end to the war. Trump insists that Iran must open the Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic. Israel has increased pressure by attacking a major petrochemical plant and killing key Iranian commanders.Asked if he was concerned about accusations of war crimes, Trump responded, "No, not at all." Negotiations continue with mediators from Egypt, Pakistan, and Turkey attempting to broker a ceasefire.
