Iran Deadline, Middle East War Escalation, Artemis II Trip Home

President Trump has set an 8 p.m. Eastern deadline for Iran to accept a deal opening the Strait of Hormuz, threatening to bomb every bridge and power plant in the country if it does not comply. Speaking at a lengthy press conference Monday, Trump said the U.S. has a plan to "decimate" every bridge in Iran and leave every power plant "burning, exploding, and never to be used again" over the course of just four hours. He also said the country would take decades to rebuild if the U.S. follows through. The threat comes as Israel is already bombing Iranian infrastructure, and as the Artemis II crew heads home after a record-breaking trip around the moon.

Trump's Ultimatum and the Ceasefire Talks

Trump's press conference began with a detailed account of the military's efforts to rescue a missing airman whose plane was shot down by Iranian forces — involving hundreds of troops, the destruction of downed aircraft to prevent Iranian seizure, and deliberate deception to confuse the Iranians about the officer's location. But the president quickly veered into a rambling set of grievances, calling NATO a "paper tiger" and joking about his popularity in Venezuela. He left no question about his plans to attack power plants and bridges if a deal is not reached by 8 p.m. Eastern.