Several U.S. politicians have voiced criticism and deep concern after President Donald Trump issued harsh, hostile threats targeting Iran. On April 5, U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on the Truth Social platform: “Tuesday (April 7) will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, all wrapped into one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it. Open the straits, you crazy enemies, or you will live in hell. Just wait and see. Glory to Allah.”
These statements immediately met with criticism from many U.S. politicians. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna argued that while Mr. Trump “shouts insults and threatens to commit conflict crimes,” the U.S. administration is failing to ensure the safety of American soldiers present in Iran—who still face attacks. Speaking on NBC’s Meet the Press on April 5, Mr. Khanna called for an immediate end to the conflict and pushed for a negotiated ceasefire between Iran, the Israel, and the U.S.
Sharing this view, Senator Tim Kaine, a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, urged President Trump to “tone down the harsh rhetoric.” Mr. Kaine described the White House chief’s recent manner of speaking as “shameful and immature,” noting that it could increase the risk to U.S. forces on the ground.
Meanwhile, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer described Trump’s words as those of a “deranged madman.” “He (Mr. Trump) is threatening to commit war crimes and antagonizing allies. That is his nature, but it is not ours. America deserves a much better civilization,” Mr. Schumer said, as quoted by The Guardian.
In the meantime, Independent Senator Bernie Sanders called the statement “dangerous and unbalanced,” while Democratic Senator Chris Murphy remarked that the situation had “spiraled completely out of control.”
Notably, Marjorie Taylor Greene—a former Republican congresswoman who once supported Mr. Trump—also voiced criticism. She argued that the closure of the Strait of Hormuz was a consequence of the war launched by the U.S. and Israel, and alleged that arguments regarding Iran’s nuclear program had been “blown out of proportion” for years. Ms. Greene had previously broken publicly with Mr. Trump when she opposed attacks against Iran in June 2025, claiming they went against the “America First” pledge.
These controversies occurred immediately following a tense rescue operation to extract two U.S. pilots from Iran. President Trump described this as an “Easter miracle,” emphasizing the scale and complexity of the mission as it took place in “harsh hostile territory.”
However, despite the White House viewing this as a military success, latest developments show that Iran maintains significant counter-attack capabilities after more than five weeks of fighting. This has raised questions about the actual effectiveness of the military campaign the U.S. is pursuing.
Representative Jake Auchincloss, a former U.S. Marine, observed that Iran is shifting its focus to controlling the Strait of Hormuz—a strategic global energy shipping lane—with a significance greater than its nuclear program. “Taken as a whole, this war is a strategic failure,” he said on Fox News.
Previously, the U.S. conducted an airstrike on a major bridge connecting Tehran to Karaj, leaving at least 8 people dead and 95 injured. President Trump subsequently posted a video of the attack and continued to warn that he would expand the target list to other critical Iranian infrastructure.
Recently, Mr. Trump has frequently threatened Iran with the goal of reopening the Strait of Hormuz. As one of the world’s most important oil and gas transit routes, the strait has been blockaded by Iran since the U.S. and Israel launched hostilities with Iran in late February, causing global oil prices to soar.
Mr. Mehdi Tabatabaei, deputy head of communications at the Iranian President’s Office, stated on April 5 that Tehran would only open the strait after receiving compensation for conflict damages, paid through a “new legal regime” based on transit fees.
To date, the conflict has resulted in more than 3,500 deaths across the region. More than 4 million people in Iran and Lebanon have been forced to flee their homes, creating one of the most serious humanitarian crises in the region in recent years.
Trump Says U.S. Once Sent Guns to Protesters in Iran
On April 5, Mr. Trump also drew attention when he told Fox News that the U.S. had sought to transfer weapons to anti-government protesters in Iran in December 2025 through Kurdish intermediaries. “We sent a lot of guns to the protesters. And I think the Kurds took those weapons,” Mr. Trump said.
This is the first time the U.S. President has publicly mentioned the move to send weapons to opposition forces inside Iranian territory amidst the period where hostilities in the Middle East continue to escalate in tension.
However, this statement met with skepticism. In late March, Qubad Talabani, the leader of the Kurdistan Region (Iraq), stated that the U.S. had not armed Iranian Kurdish opposition groups living in exile in the region. “We have not seen any effort from the U.S., from any agency, to arm Iranian opposition groups in Kurdistan,” Mr. Talabani told AFP.
Iran Warns Trump: Surrender or Return to the ‘Stone Age’
On April 6, Mahdi Mohammadi—an advisor to the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament—issued a warning to President Donald Trump regarding the conflict in the Middle East.
“Mr. Trump has about 20 hours to surrender to Iran, or Iran’s allies will send him back to the stone age,” Mahdi Mohammadi wrote on the social media platform X.
Mr. Mohammadi emphasized that Tehran has “clearly and substantially won the war, and will only accept a conclusion that consolidates the interests achieved while establishing a new security order in the region,” according to Al Jazeera.
Earlier that same day, April 6, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei called on the American people to hold their government accountable for what he described as a “war of aggression” targeting Iran.
“The American people need to know that what their government is doing against Iran in West Asia is a great injustice, and is an unjust, aggressive war,” Esmaeil Baghaei told Iranian media.
He also urged the American people to hold their government “accountable for the actions and crimes committed in the name of Americans.”
Earlier, during a press conference on the afternoon of April 6 (U.S. time), Mr. Trump repeatedly mentioned a deadline for Iran to reach a ceasefire agreement with the U.S. by 8:00 p.m. on April 7 (U.S. time).
“They have a deadline until tomorrow, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. After that, they will have no bridges left, no power plants left. It will be the stone age,” the White House chief warned.
Mr. Trump emphasized that the U.S. military has developed plans to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and power plants in just four hours.
Additionally, he recounted ordering the destruction of Iran’s largest bridge in just 10 minutes after being reported that the Iranian side appeared to have broken an agreement.
Regarding conflict developments, Iran’s Mehr News Agency reported on April 7 that a projectile launched by the U.S. and Israel struck a synagogue in the center of the capital, Tehran.
The attack caused damage to the synagogue. Currently, rescue forces are conducting cleanup and rescuing those who are trapped.
On the other side, the Israeli military announced it has completed a new round of airstrikes targeting infrastructure targets across Iran, including Tehran.
Simultaneously, Israel’s air defense systems are in the process of intercepting missiles launched from Iran.
Trump Asserts ‘America Wins,’ Seeks Strait of Hormuz Tolls and Iranian Oil
Mr. Trump asserted that he has considered imposing fees on the Strait of Hormuz and seizing Iranian oil as “spoils for the winner.”
On the afternoon of April 6—early morning April 7, Vietnam time—U.S. President Donald Trump held a press conference to share information regarding the military conflict between the United States and Israel against Iran.
Notably, Mr. Trump admitted that the U.S. is considering the idea of collecting fees from vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz—a vital maritime artery transporting approximately one-fifth of the global crude oil supply—after the hostilities end.
Responding to a reporter’s question on the matter, Mr. Trump said: “The U.S. collecting fees? I’d rather do that than let (Iran) do it. Why not? We are the winners. We won. Militarily, they have been defeated. We have had the idea of collecting fees, yes.”
Additionally, Mr. Trump did not hide his desire to seize a portion of Iran’s crude oil as “spoils.” He cited the example of the U.S. bringing back over 100 million barrels of oil from Venezuela, refining and selling them, and generating revenue “many, many times the cost (of the military campaign back in January).”
He affirmed: “You know the old saying: ‘To the victor belong the spoils.’ Why shouldn’t we apply it? This country probably hasn’t done that in 100 years.”
He specifically criticized the U.S. for helping defeated nations in World War II, such as Japan and West Germany, to rebuild “without making a profit,” calling it a “huge mistake.”
Also during the press conference, Mr. Trump repeatedly mentioned the deadline for Iran to reach a ceasefire agreement with the U.S. by 8:00 p.m. on April 7 (U.S. time).
He warned: “They have a deadline until tomorrow, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time. After that, they will have no bridges left, no power plants left. It will be the Stone Age.”
Mr. Trump emphasized that the U.S. military has devised plans to destroy all of Iran’s bridges and power plants in just four hours. He also recounted ordering the destruction of Iran’s largest bridge in just 10 minutes after being reported that the Iranian side appeared to have broken the agreement.
Despite this, Mr. Trump maintained that Iran is currently an “active participant in negotiations” and is acting in good faith, with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Vice President JD Vance negotiating directly.
When asked about the specific conditions for Iran to meet the negotiation deadline, Mr. Trump said: “We have to have a deal that I can accept. Part of that deal is free maritime traffic for oil and everything else through the Strait of Hormuz.”
Trump Warns of “Wiping Out” Iran Overnight Without a Deal
President Donald Trump has declared that he will launch airstrikes against Iranian power plants and bridges if Tehran fails to reach an agreement before Tuesday night.
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he would order sweeping strikes on Iran’s civilian power plants and bridges on Tuesday night unless Tehran reaches a deal to end the ongoing five-week war.
Mr. Trump’s pledge at a White House press conference came ahead of a deadline of 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday (07:00 on April 8, Vietnam time), the time he set for Iran to comply with U.S. conditions.
Mr. Trump demanded that Iran renounce nuclear weapons and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping route. He said: “This entire country could be wiped out in one night, and that night could be tomorrow night.”
“I hope I don’t have to do it,” Mr. Trump stated.
He asserted that the U.S. has a plan “in which every bridge in Iran will be destroyed” by midnight Wednesday U.S. time and “every power plant in Iran will be shut down, on fire, exploded, and never used again.”
“I mean, a total destruction—at 12 o’clock, and it will take place over a four-hour period if we want it to. We don’t want that to happen,” he said.
Critics argue that Mr. Trump would be committing war crimes if the U.S. attacks civilian power plants, a view Mr. Trump dismissed on Monday. “I’m not worried about that. You know what a war crime is? It’s having nuclear weapons,” Mr. Trump said earlier Monday during an Easter event for children on the South Lawn of the White House.
Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said at the press conference that the heaviest airstrikes since the start of the Iran conflict would take place on Monday and warned that Tuesday would be even more intense.
Speaking with reporters at the Easter event, Mr. Trump suggested that the proposal from the Iranian side was inadequate. “They made a proposal, and it was a significant proposal. It was a significant step forward. But it’s still not good enough,” he said. He maintained that the war could end quickly if Iran does “what they have to do.”
While providing no evidence, Mr. Trump said the U.S. has “a lot of intercepted intelligence” from Iranian civilians urging the U.S. not to give up on toppling the Iranian government. “They are willing to endure it in exchange for freedom,” he said.
The Pilot Rescue Operation
Mr. Trump, along with Hegseth and other top national security advisors, has framed the rescue of a downed U.S. pilot as a symbol of American strength and resolve. He detailed last weekend’s operation to save the pilot, who had been hiding in Iran’s mountainous terrain and escaping pursuit by Iranian forces.
Mr. Trump said the pilot, identified only by the call sign “Dude 44 Bravo,” had repeatedly climbed higher to increase his chances of being rescued. The pilot was seen moving via an undisclosed U.S. camera link. “It was like looking for a needle in a haystack,” Mr. Trump said.
CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency carried out a “diversionary operation” to convince the Iranians that the pilot was elsewhere. By last Saturday morning, the CIA had confirmed that “one of America’s best and bravest was still alive and hiding in a mountain crevice, invisible to the enemy but not hidden from the CIA.”
The pilot, who was shot down on Friday, was rescued on Sunday morning. “In a breathtaking display of skill, precision, and power, the U.S. military landed in that area, attacked the enemy, rescued the trapped officer, eliminated every threat, and left Iranian territory without any casualties,” Mr. Trump declared.
Secretary of War Hegseth said the pilot used an emergency signaling device for location and his first message was: “God is good.” General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said the rescued pilot was the backseater on the aircraft that was shot down.
President Trump announces “farewell” to NATO over disagreements over Greenland.
President Trump recently announced that he has made a firm decision to part ways with NATO, following the alliance’s reaction to Washington’s plan to control Greenland.
Immediately after this announcement, President Donald Trump abruptly cut short the exchange with the media and left the press conference room amidst a clamor of questions from reporters.
Earlier, President Trump also expressed his displeasure when NATO refused to support the US in its campaign in Iran. He called it an “indelible stain” on the organization’s credibility.
“Clearly, we don’t need them, because they’re not helping at all. On the contrary, they’re trying every way to avoid providing support. They don’t even want to provide us with runways,” President Trump emphasized. The American leader didn’t hesitate to criticize the North Atlantic military alliance as a “paper tiger” and asserted that Russia is not afraid of the organization.
Last week, President Trump also indicated that he was seriously considering withdrawing the US from the military bloc. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio noted that Washington needed to reassess the importance of the alliance once the conflicts in the Middle East were resolved.
In fiscal year 2027, the US is projected to increase its arms procurement spending by 84.6%. Specifically, the budget requested by the Pentagon has surged to $413 billion, compared to $223.8 billion the previous year.
The most dramatic increase was in general defense spending, rising by as much as 571% compared to fiscal year 2026 – from $15 billion to $101 billion.
The allocation details are as follows: The Army received $60.5 billion, nearly double last year’s amount. The main driver was the missile arsenal, with investment increasing by 360% to $36.6 billion. The Navy and Marine Corps are expected to receive $150 billion (a 45% increase). Within this, the shipbuilding budget increased by 46% and military aircraft procurement costs nearly doubled.
The Air Force and Space Force are projected to have a budget of $101 billion. Notably, the budget specifically allocated to the Space Force has increased sharply by 344%, reaching $19 billion.
