Trump claims US could ‘take out’ Iran in one night, maybe tomorrow

President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against Tehran on Monday, claiming that the United States has the military capability to “take out” the entire country of Iran in just one night. “The entire country could be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night,” Trump told reporters. He sharpened his deadline further, warning that by Tuesday night at 8 p.m. EDT, every bridge and power plant in Iran would be “decimated” if no deal is reached. Despite the threats, Trump said Washington is now dealing with an “active, willing participant” on the Iranian side who is negotiating “in good faith,” with assistance from several “incredible countries.”

Rescue missions and media leak controversy

Trump also disclosed dramatic details about the recovery of two downed F-15 crew members from inside Iran. He said a second rescue mission involved 155 aircraft, including four bombers, 64 fighters, and 48 refueling tankers. CIA Director John Ratcliffe said the agency executed a “deception campaign to confuse the Iranians” while using classified assets to locate the airmen in a remote mountain crevice. Trump described the operation as a high-stakes gamble, noting that two large extraction aircraft got stuck in wet sand and had to be destroyed on the ground to prevent Iranian capture of sensitive technology. The president also threatened to pursue a journalist who leaked information about a missing pilot, accusing the media outlet of endangering the rescue by triggering a nationwide Iranian manhunt.

Tolls in Hormuz, NATO criticism, and Türkiye’s position

Trump declared that the US, as the victor, intends to charge tolls on the Strait of Hormuz. “Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner. We won,” he said. He also expressed frustration with NATO’s refusal to help secure the strait, calling it “a mark on NATO that will never disappear.” Trump advised Kurdish forces to “stay away” from Iran ahead of a major escalation. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth added that Monday would see “the largest volume of strikes in Iran since day one,” with even more planned for Tuesday. Since the US-Israeli offensive began on February 28, more than 1,340 people have been killed in Iran, including former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. For Türkiye, which borders Iran and has consistently called for de-escalation, Trump’s threats of total national destruction and plans to unilaterally control Hormuz represent a dangerous shift toward unchecked military action. Ankara continues to urge all parties to return to diplomacy, warning that talk of “eliminating” a nation sets a catastrophic precedent.