Trump's Deadline on Strait of Hormuz Nears; Iran Remains Defiant

April 7, 2026 – The West Asia war involving the US, Israel and Iran shows no sign of a slowdown even as the deadline issued by US President Donald Trump nears. Trump has threatened to blow up Iran’s power plants and bridges if the country does not open up the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic has remained defiant and even called upon its young citizens to form human chains around Iran’s energy plants to protect them from possible US strikes.

In a media briefing on Monday (April 6), Trump warned that if Iran failed to accept an agreement to reopen the Strait before the deadline, it would be taken out “in one night”. Iran has rejected a temporary ceasefire plan and is insisting on a permanent end to the conflict, lifting of sanctions and reimbursement for war damages.

Trump has also hinted that he will not extend the deadline anymore. Writing on his social media platform Truth Social, he said, “Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT… "Time is running out - 48 hours before all Hell will reign down on them.”

Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan has said discussions to end the war were in a critical stage with "friendly countries like Pakistan seek to lay the ground of dialogues between Tehran and Washington”.

Meanwhile, as the war enters its second month, both sides are continuing to launch a barrage of missiles and drones at each other and the Gulf nations. Saudi Arabia is one among the Gulf countries facing the brunt of retaliatory strikes from Iran and reported interception of seven ballistic missiles on Tuesday (April 7). A petrochemical plant in the country’s industrial areas was hit in an Iranian attack.

Israel on Tuesday asked Iranians to stay away from trains which, it said, could endanger their lives.

Iran media on Tuesday claimed that a Jewish synagogue in Tehran was extensively damaged in a projectile strike by US-Israel.

In another development, Iran has criticised the International Atomic Energy ⁠Agency for what it called the latter's "lack of ⁠decisive ​action" against US-Israeli aggression on Iran’s nuclear facilities such as the Bushehr power plant which has been targeted four times so far. Iran's atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami wrote to the director of the nuclear watchdog saying mere ​expressions of concern were not sufficient and would ​only serve to encourage further strikes. 

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