TEHRAN responded to threats and insults from Donald Trump on the 38th day of war this Monday, April 6, promising “even more devastating” retaliation. The previous day, the American president urged the Iranians to open the “damn Strait” of Hormuz, calling them “a species of idiots.”
Iran pledged on Monday, April 6, to carry out “even more devastating” retaliatory strikes in the event of further American-Israeli attacks on civilian infrastructure.
“If attacks on civilian targets continue, the next phases of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and extensive, and the losses and damages caused by maintaining this approach will be multiplied,” warned the Iranian military command spokesperson in a statement.
Believing they have hit the desired military targets, the American president now threatens to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including bridges and power plants, if Iran does not fully reopen the passage in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial maritime route for global oil supply.
“Our entire region will burn because you insist on following (Benjamin) Netanyahu’s orders,” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf retorted to Trump.
This bellicose rhetoric has fueled fears among investors in the oil market, following a three-day Easter break. Both Brent crude and WTI prices, the two main types of oil, were hovering around the symbolic threshold of $110 a barrel on Monday.
These concerns were only slightly eased by the decision of Russia, Saudi Arabia, and six other OPEC+ members to increase their production quotas again starting in May.
Threats from Donald Trump
The conflict, which began on February 28, shows no signs of de-escalation: strikes continue day after day, and threats of “hell” for the other side persist.
“Open the Damn Strait, you bunch of idiots, or you will live in Hell – YOU WILL SEE!” Donald Trump wrote on his platform Truth Social, now setting his ultimatum for “Tuesday 8:00 PM.” Unpredictable in his announcements, the American president planned a press conference – a format he is not accustomed to – at the White House on Monday at 1:00 PM Washington time (7:00 PM Paris time).
Donald Trump is expected to discuss the rescue operation in Iran of a severely injured American pilot, while between threats, he still mentioned to American media “good chances” of reaching an agreement with Tehran to cease fighting.
Diplomatic Efforts
Alongside threats and attacks, diplomatic efforts continue: Oman, facing Iran across the Strait of Hormuz, discussed reopening with Tehran, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke on the phone with his Pakistani and Egyptian counterparts, who play a mediating role.
However, the prospect of an agreement between Americans and Iranians, “at least in the current conditions, is almost nonexistent,” assessed security analyst and former Israeli intelligence expert Danny Citrinowicz. In Lebanon, another area suffering the heavy toll of war, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah claimed new rocket fire from the other side of the border with Israel.
On the early hours of the 38th day of the Middle East war this Monday, Tehran targeted Israel, Kuwait, and the United Arab Emirates with its missiles and drones. The Israeli army, on its part, announced a new series of strikes against Tehran.
