Iran cuts direct communication with the US after Trump threatens to ‘destroy civilization’ in the country, says newspaper

Trump raises threats and says he can destroy Iran in one night Jornal Nacional/ Reproduction Iran has cut off direct communications with the USA, in response to President Trump’s threat to destroy “all civilization” in Iran, according to The Wall Street Journal this Tuesday (7). Despite the measure, negotiations for a ceasefire continue through mediators, according to a Middle East official. Earlier, the Iranian newspaper Tehran Times had also reported that both direct and indirect communications were cut off, but backtracked hours later and said that the channels are not closed in a publication Tuesday (7) for Iran to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The threat increases the risk of military escalation with global effects. In response to Trump’s threats, Iran maintained a defiant tone. In an interview with Reuters, a high-ranking Iranian official stated that the country will not reopen Hormuz in exchange for “empty promises” and also threatened to close the Bab el-Mandeb sea route, “if the situation gets out of control.” The Iranian official also threatened to leave “the entire Middle East in the dark” if the US attacks Iran’s power plants. Iranians form human chain around thermoelectric plant Trump’s Ultimatum Ends this Tuesday (7), at 9pm Brasília time, the deadline given by Donald Trump for Iran to reach an agreement with the United States. The US president stated that the Iranians will “live in hell” if negotiations do not progress. ▶️ Context: The war between the United States, Israel and Iran is already in its sixth week — the maximum period predicted for the duration of the conflict by Trump himself when the offensive began. The US says it wants to ensure that Iran commits to never seeking a nuclear weapon, as well as limiting the range and number of missiles. Trump claims that the US has already won the war, after destroying a significant part of the Iranian Armed Forces, including missiles and launchers. At the same time, the president argues that it is necessary to “finish the job” to prevent Iran from threatening the US or its allies again. Despite US military advances, Iran has demonstrated resilience by putting pressure on the global economy. The country closed part of the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime route for transporting oil, which raised fuel prices in several countries. Iran also maintains frequent attacks against Israel, hitting cities such as Tel Aviv and Haifa. Neighboring countries ended up being involved in the conflict, with Tehran targeting American bases in the Middle East and US-linked energy companies in the region. The Iranian reaction has affected Trump’s popularity just a few months before the so-called “midterms”, elections that will renew a large part of the North American Congress. Faced with political and economic pressure, the president has been increasing the tone of his threats. On Sunday (5), Trump wrote on a social network that Iran would have until 9pm this Tuesday to close an agreement that included the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. He has threatened to attack Iranian bridges and power plants if negotiations remain deadlocked. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day all rolled into one in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the f***ing straits, you crazy bastards, or you’ll live in hell — just wait! Praise be to Allah,” he wrote on Truth Social. 🗓️ This, however, was not the first ultimatum made by Trump in recent days. On March 21, the president said he would “obliterate” plants if Iran did not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. Two days later, he granted another five days of deadline and said there were “very good and productive” negotiations with Iran. On March 26, he extended the deadline until April 6 and once again mentioned progress in the talks. On Monday (6), during a press conference, Trump stated that the US could take “all of Iran in just one night” and demanded an “acceptable” agreement. According to him, after the stipulated deadline, all of Iran’s bridges will be “decimated” and the power plants will be “demolished” within a few hours.

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