Iran remained steadfast on Tuesday as a US-imposed deadline approached, demanding the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. The country dismissed President Donald Trump’s warnings to “decimate” its civilian infrastructure if it failed to comply. The Iranian military condemned what it described as Trump’s “arrogant rhetoric and unfounded threats,” affirming that operations against US and Israeli forces would continue unabated more than five weeks into the conflict.
Trump had issued a stark ultimatum, stating that if Tehran did not allow free passage through the strategic oil passage by midnight GMT Tuesday, the United States would carry out a “complete demolition” of Iran’s vital infrastructure. He detailed plans to destroy every bridge and power plant across Iran within four hours, asserting that such strikes would be executed regardless of accusations of war crimes.
In response, the Iranian army’s Khatam Al-Anbiya central command labeled Trump as “delusional” and vowed that the “crushing operations of the warriors of Islam against American and Zionist enemies” would persist. The conflict intensified overnight, with Israel announcing a fresh series of airstrikes targeting what it called Iranian “terror regime infrastructure” in Tehran and surrounding areas. Iranian media reported explosions in Tehran and nearby Karaj early Tuesday.
The Israeli military later confirmed detecting missile launches from Iran towards Israeli territory, with air defense systems actively intercepting the projectiles. Meanwhile, Bahrain’s interior ministry activated air-raid sirens, urging citizens to seek shelter. The United Arab Emirates also reported engaging missiles and drones with its air defenses. Saudi Arabia’s defense ministry stated that its forces intercepted and destroyed seven ballistic missiles aimed at the kingdom’s eastern region, with debris falling near critical energy installations.
On the diplomatic front, both the US and Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal brokered by international mediators, including Pakistan, Egypt, and Turkey. Trump initially described the 45-day ceasefire plan as “significant” but later deemed it insufficient. Iranian officials similarly dismissed the proposal, emphasizing the need for a conclusive end to hostilities. Reports indicated that Iran demands guarantees against future attacks and cessation of Israeli strikes on Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The plan reportedly involves Iran reopening the strait while charging approximately $2 million per vessel, a fee to be shared with neighboring Oman.
Meanwhile, the UN Security Council prepared to vote on a diluted resolution addressing Iran’s threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Earlier drafts, which would have authorized force to reopen the waterway, faced opposition from permanent members with veto power, resulting in a softened text that does not explicitly permit the use of force. Iran’s UN envoy condemned US threats as state terrorism, warning they would normalize war crimes and humanitarian disasters with repercussions beyond the region.
In a related development, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards confirmed the death of their intelligence chief, Majid Khademi, in US-Israeli strikes on Monday, promising a “major retaliatory strike.” Israel also announced the killing of Asghar Bagheri, a senior commander in the Guards’ Quds Force.
