Hegseth touts US ‘victory’ over Iran as Tehran hails its own ‘historic’ win

President Trump has issued an ultimatum to Iran, demanding a deal that includes free oil traffic through the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday evening, Washington DC time, or face devastating strikes. Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire and presented its own demands, described by a US official as "maximalist." With the deadline approaching, there is little indication Iran will agree. Failure to follow through on the threat could damage Trump's credibility, despite recent displays of American military prowess, including a rescue mission of downed airmen in Iran. The situation highlights Iran's potential to disrupt oil tanker traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a capability the US may be underestimating.

Donald Trump threatened Iran with attacks on its power plants and bridges if it does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by his deadline of Monday. The threat was made in an expletive-laden social media post on Sunday, where he stated that Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day" in Iran. Trump had previously set a 10-day deadline on March 26 for Iran to reopen the Strait, a key shipping route that has been halted since the US and Israel attacked Iran on February 28. While Trump claims Iran is seeking a deal to end the war, Iran has stated that it is not seeking to end the war and has vowed to escalate if its infrastructure is targeted. US-Israeli strikes have already targeted civilian infrastructure in Iran.

In a press conference on April 7, 2026, regarding the US involvement in the Iran war, President Donald Trump and Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth invoked religious themes. Trump stated his belief that God supports the United States' actions in the conflict. Hegseth drew a parallel between the rescue of a downed US airman and the resurrection of Jesus Christ. The press conference focused on the US's role in the Iran war and included religious justifications for their involvement. The comments were made during a news conference.

Donald Trump issued an expletive-laden threat to Iran on his Truth Social platform, demanding they reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Monday or face attacks on their energy and transport infrastructure. The Strait has been closed since the US and Israel launched war on Iran at the end of February, causing oil prices around the world to skyrocket to record highs. The Iranian government stated they would only reopen the strait after receiving compensation for war damages. The remarks have drawn criticism from some US politicians, including Marjorie Taylor Greene, who questioned Trump's mental state and criticized the US-Israeli war against Iran. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical shipping lane for oil and gas.

On Easter Sunday, former US President Donald Trump posted an expletive-laden message on his Truth Social account attacking Iran. In the post, Trump threatened Iran with heavy bombing if it did not unblock the Strait of Hormuz. He ended the message with a sarcastic "Praise be to Allah." The post drew immediate criticism, particularly from Democratic Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, who described Trump's rhetoric as unhinged and potentially leading to war crimes. Schumer stated that Trump's actions alienated allies and did not reflect American values. The incident occurred on a Christian holiday, further amplifying the criticism.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared a "decisive military victory" over Iran, claiming the destruction of its navy, air defense, and missile production capabilities following "Operation Epic Fury." Hegseth stated that Iran's missile program was functionally destroyed and that the ceasefire agreement ensures Iran will never possess nuclear weapons. These claims of victory follow a two-week ceasefire after heightened tensions that nearly resulted in a full-scale US assault. Despite Hegseth's claims, he acknowledged Iran's ability to still engage in limited attacks. The US military remains in the Middle East to monitor Iran's compliance with the ceasefire and its enriched uranium stockpile. The article also notes that Tehran is hailing its own "historic" win.

President Trump has threatened military action against Iran if it fails to meet his deadline of Tuesday at 8:00 PM EDT to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Speaking at the White House, Trump stated that the U.S. could "take out" Iran "in one night," targeting its energy and transportation infrastructure, and send the country "back to the Stone Ages" if the deadline is missed. While Iran has rejected previous ceasefire proposals and called for sanctions relief, Trump expressed optimism that negotiations were progressing in good faith. However, a regional official indicated that communication blackouts and delayed responses from Iranian officials are complicating negotiations. The threat comes after the U.S. successfully rescued crew members from a downed fighter jet in southern Iran.

President Trump touted a successful US rescue operation of an American pilot and weapons officer from a downed F-15 in Iran. He simultaneously warned that the US could strike Iran's infrastructure if negotiations fail by his Tuesday deadline. Trump stated the entire country of Iran could be "taken out in a night" if his demands are not met. This comes as Pakistan proposed a ceasefire to allow for talks, which Iran rejected, threatening further retaliation. The US is also investigating a leak regarding a reported US serviceman casualty during the operation.