Trump Warns 'A Whole Civilisation Will Die Tonight' as US Strikes Iran's Kharg Island

'A Whole Civilisation Will Die Tonight'

Donald Trump has issued his starkest warning yet in the Iran conflict, posting on Truth Social that "a whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will" — unless Iran reaches a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz before his 8pm ET deadline on Tuesday (2am Wednesday in Spain).

The US president added that "something revolutionarily wonderful can happen" before the deadline, but also reiterated his threat to bomb Iran's power plants and bridges in a concentrated overnight attack.

US Strikes Kharg Island

Hours before the deadline, the US carried out new strikes on military targets on Kharg Island — Iran's key oil export terminal, according to CBS News. A US official said oil infrastructure was not targeted, only military facilities. The US previously struck the island in March, with Trump claiming military targets had been "totally obliterated."

Vice President JD Vance, speaking in Budapest, said the US had "fundamentally completed its military objectives" in Iran and that the nature of the war's conclusion was now up to Tehran. He outlined two pathways: Iran becomes "a normal country" or faces continued economic devastation.

Israel Strikes Bridge — Two Killed

Iranian state media reported that two people were killed after a strike on a bridge in Kashan, hours after Israel warned Iranians not to take trains "for the sake of your security." Airstrikes also destroyed a key bridge between Tehran and Karaj.

The Israeli military confirmed further waves of strikes on Tehran overnight, including a petrochemical facility in Shiraz and military sites.

Iran Strikes Back

Iran has not backed down. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it struck a petrochemical complex in Jubail, Saudi Arabia, describing it as retaliation for attacks on Iranian petrochemical plants. A fire broke out at the complex and loud explosions were heard.

Iran also launched more ballistic missiles at Israel, with several Gulf nations reporting overnight strikes. Sirens sounded across Israel as impacts were reported in the Tel Aviv area and Haifa.

A Pattern of Deadlines

This is not Trump's first ultimatum during the conflict:

• 21 March — threatened to "hit and obliterate" power plants within 48 hours
• 23 March — postponed strikes after "productive conversations"
• 27 March — extended deadline by 10 days at Iran's request
• 4 April — warned Iran had 48 hours before "all hell"
• 6 April — declared Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day"
• 7 April — issued the "civilisation will die" warning

What This Means for Spain and Europe

With oil above $110 a barrel and the Strait of Hormuz — through which roughly 20% of the world's oil passes — effectively closed, the impact on Spain and Europe continues to mount:

• Fuel prices at Spanish petrol stations remain elevated
• Airlines are cancelling routes and adding fuel surcharges
• Energy bills are under pressure across the EU
• Five EU nations including Spain have called for a windfall tax on energy companies profiting from the crisis

The conflict has now entered its sixth week with no clear resolution in sight.

This article is based on reporting from BBC News, published April 7, 2026. This is a rapidly developing story and details may change. This article is for informational purposes only.