Fox News Live: Trump escalates Iran war threat over Hormuz passage

Show summary Hide summary

• 🔥 Quick Facts
• Trump Issues Explosive Tuesday Ultimatum on Truth Social
• Heroic F-15 Rescue Deployed 155 Aircraft in 48-Hour Operation
• Pakistan’s 45-Day Ceasefire Plan Becomes Latest Diplomatic Hope
• Iran Vows “Crushing Revenge” As Operation Epic Fury Escalates Strikes
• Will Trump’s Deadline Break the Stalemate, or Push the Region to the Brink?
  • Sources

Trump escalates Iran war threat with a dramatic deadline: reopen the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday 8 PM ET or face destruction of power plants and bridges. The unprecedented ultimatum came hours after a heroic 48-hour rescue mission pulled both crew members from deep inside Iranian territory.

Trump Issues Explosive Tuesday Ultimatum on Truth Social

In a profanity-laden post on Easter Sunday, President Trump warned Iran that Tuesday would mean Power Plant Day and Bridge Day rolled into one devastating assault. The 65-year-old president demanded the Strait of Hormuz reopen immediately, threatening “all hell” if Iran refused. Trump later clarified at the White House Easter Egg Roll that Iran made a significant proposal but it remained “not good enough.” He reiterated the country must cry uncle and surrender, or face obliteration of its entire infrastructure.

This marked Trump’s most dramatic escalation in a five-week-old conflict that has already killed thousands. The Republican president suggested the U.S. could take Iran’s oil as reparations if given the choice, though American public sentiment favors bringing troops home. Trump said military officials initially opposed the daring rescue mission, but he overruled them to “leave no American behind.”

Heroic F-15 Rescue Deployed 155 Aircraft in 48-Hour Operation

The U.S. military executed one of the largest, most complex combat rescue missions in history this weekend. After an F-15E Strike Eagle was shot down deep inside Iran on Thursday night, both pilots ejected safely onto mountainous terrain. The first pilot was rescued within hours on Friday, but the weapons systems officer remained missing for nearly 48 hours. That officer scaled cliff faces, treated his own wounds, and transmitted his location while evading Iranian forces and their search dogs.

To retrieve him, 155 aircraft were deployed, including 64 fighters, 4 bombers, 48 refueling tankers, and 13 rescue aircraft. Over 200 munitions were expended in the operation. General Dan Caine, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, called it an “incredibly brave and courageous mission” that demonstrated America’s commitment to never leaving war fighters behind. CIA Director John Ratcliffe revealed the agency deployed a “deception campaign” to confuse searching Iranians.

Pakistan’s 45-Day Ceasefire Plan Becomes Latest Diplomatic Hope

As Trump’s Tuesday deadline approached, Pakistan presented a last-ditch 45-day ceasefire proposal to both Washington and Tehran on Sunday evening. The framework calls for immediate cessation of hostilities and Strait reopening, followed by 15-20 days to finalize broader peace terms. A final deal would include Iranian nuclear commitments, Western sanctions relief, and unfrozen Iranian assets. However, Trump has not endorsed the $100+ billion proposal, calling it “one of many ideas.”

Proposal Element	Details
Duration	45 days ceasefire with Strait reopening
Negotiation Period	15-20 days for permanent settlement
Key Terms	Nuclear limits, sanctions lift, asset release
Status	Presented Sunday, awaiting response from both sides

Pakistan’s army chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, worked all night coordinating with Vice President JD Vance, special envoy Steve Witkoff, and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. Iran formally rejected Trump’s earlier 15-point peace plan, demanding infrastructure reconstruction funding and permanent Strait control. Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu credited U.S.-Israeli strikes for weakening Iran’s regime while strengthening their “steadfast alliance.”

“There will be nothing like it. Open the Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell. Just watch.”

— President Donald Trump, Truth Social post, Easter Sunday 2026

Iran Vows “Crushing Revenge” As Operation Epic Fury Escalates Strikes

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps warned of “Operation Crushing Revenge” after Maj. Gen. Majid Khademi, the IRGC’s intelligence chief, was killed in Monday morning airstrikes alongside more than 25 others. The Revolutionary Guard vowed the “malicious” American-Israeli alliance would face major retaliation for the assassination. Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who succeeded his father in February after he too was killed in strikes, issued a rare public statement mourning Khademi.

Operation Epic Fury has now executed 10,000 combat missions since late February 2026, striking 13,000+ Iranian targets including petrochemical plants, power infrastructure, and military headquarters. Israeli forces destroyed Iran’s largest petrochemical facility on Monday, describing it as a “tens of billions” blow to Tehran. Thick black smoke rose from Tehran’s Sharif University after one precision airstrike. Yet Iran continues unleashing missiles and drones on Israel, Gulf allies, and Iraq-based proxies, killing 4 civilians in Haifa and wounding hundreds across the Arabian Gulf region.

Will Trump’s Deadline Break the Stalemate, or Push the Region to the Brink?

As Tuesday 8 PM ET approaches, the critical question looms: will Iran capitulate to Trump’s ultimatum, or will the U.S. unleash devastating strikes on civilian power plants and bridges as threatened? Iran’s foreign ministry denounced Trump’s threats as “war crimes” under international humanitarian law, while EU President Antonio Costa warned that attacking civilian infrastructure is “illegal and unacceptable.” Yet Trump dismissed concerns, calling the Iranian regime animals and declaring “only I will set a ceasefire.”

The oil market has spiked on Hormuz blockade fears, global shipping routes face unprecedented disruption, and allied nations like Israel, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE brace for imminent Iranian retaliation. Will Pakistan’s ceasefire framework offer a lifeline, or has Trump’s nuclear deadline sealed Iran’s fate? The world holds its breath.

Sources

• Fox News – Live coverage of Trump statements at White House Easter Egg Roll and rescue mission details
• CBS News – Live updates on Trump deadline, Iranian response, and rescue operation costs
• Council on Foreign Relations – Analysis of Trump escalation threats to Iranian infrastructure