Iran's 8 PM Deadline, Soleimani Niece Arrest, and Artemis II Breaks Space Record

President Trump set a hard 8 p.m. Eastern deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to reach a deal will trigger devastating attacks on Iranian power plants and bridges. "Every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again," Trump said, describing a plan that would unfold over four hours. He added that rebuilding would take "a hundred years." The deadline follows a ten-day extension Trump granted after Iran requested seven days, which he said he gave "indirectly" because he thought it "inappropriate" to press the issue the day after Easter. Trump claimed Iran is "negotiating we think in good faith" and that "incredible countries" are helping mediate, but warned: "They're gonna have no bridges, they're gonna have no power plants. Stone ages."

Iranian state media responded yesterday by announcing a nationwide campaign to protect key infrastructure. Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports Ali Reza Rahimi called on young people to form human chains around power plants, writing on X: "We will stand hand in hand to say attacking public infrastructure is a war crime." These human shields were expected to form thirteen hours before Trump's deadline. The White House has not yet responded.