In a series of expletive-laden posts, President Donald Trump has alarmed many by issuing Iran a new deadline tomorrow, sparking fears of a potential military strike. Trump threatened to target civilian infrastructure unless Tehran reopens the Strait of Hormuz on “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time”, 1am Wednesday in the UK.

Trump told Iran to “open the F***in’ Strait’ or face “living in hell” in an extraordinary swear-laden rant on Sunday, with a deadline to ‘make a deal or open the strait’ in a fresh ultimatum. The 79-year-old leader ended his explosive post with “Praise be to Allah”. The Iranian military responded with a statement warning that “if attacks on civilian targets are repeated, the next stages of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and widespread”.

Trump’s message has stirred renewed worldwide anxiety over a “nuclear strike”.

Independent journalist Aaron Rupar wrote on X: “It cannot be ruled out that this is a threat to use a nuclear weapon against Iran.”

Trump also drew backlash from Capitol Hill with Chuck Schumer, a senior Senate Democrat, who said the US President is “ranting like an unhinged madman”.

He said: “The president of the United States is ranting like an unhinged madman on social media … He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better.”

Trump was accused by Kazem Gharibabadi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, of accusing Trump of threatening to “commit war crimes”.

In a long post on X this morning he said: “The President of the United States, in his capacity as the highest-ranking official of his country, has openly threatened to commit war crimes.”

Gharibabadi also warned that Iran would “deliver a decisive, immediate and regret-inducing response to any aggression or imminent threat”.

This morning, a senior Iranian official confirmed to Reuters that Tehran has received the two-tier ceasefire plan from Pakistan, and is reviewing the proposal.

However, Iran won’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz in exchange for a “temporary ceasefire” as Washington lacks the readiness for a lasting ceasefire. the official was quoted as saying.