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U.S. President Donald Trump faces a deadline of his own making: strike Iran's power plants and bridges by 8 p.m. Tuesday or extend talks.
Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt, and Türkiye are working to broker a last-minute agreement, according to Axios report and statements by Trump at a Monday press conference.
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Trump laid out the scope of the potential strikes in stark terms during his Monday press conference.
"We have a plan where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night. Where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to," Trump said.
"We don't want that to happen," he added.
He also warned: "The entire country could be taken out in one night, and it might be tomorrow night."
At the same time, Trump said negotiations were "going fine" and stressed the U.S. has "an active, willing participant on the other side" that is "negotiating in good faith."
Multiple sources told Axios that Trump may be the most hawkish voice in his own inner circle on Iran, outpacing even his cabinet.
"The president is the most bloodthirsty, like a mad dog," one U.S. official said, downplaying suggestions that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth or Secretary of State Marco Rubio were driving the pressure on Tehran.
"Those guys sound like the doves compared to the president," the U.S. official noted.
Trump has been asking advisers and confidants: "What do you think of Infrastructure Day?"
His negotiating team, Vice President JD Vance, Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, believes he should pursue a deal if one is achievable, Axios reported.
But Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the leaders of Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) are urging Trump not to agree to a ceasefire unless Iran makes concessions that currently appear unlikely, including reopening the Strait of Hormuz or relinquishing all highly enriched uranium.
Iran submitted a 10-point response to the current peace proposals on Monday.
A U.S. official described it as "maximalist," but the White House viewed it as a negotiating gambit rather than a rejection, Axios reported.
Two senior Iranian officials, speaking to the New York Times (NYT), on the condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive negotiations, said the proposal included a guarantee that Iran would not be attacked again, an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and the lifting of all sanctions.
Mediators told the White House they are working with Iranians on amendments and redrafting, and cautioned that Iranian decision-making is very slow, which may necessitate an extension of the deadline. Trump's advisers told mediators that the president needs to see positive indications from Iran before considering any extension.
"If the president sees a deal is coming together, he'll probably hold off. But only he and he alone makes that decision," a senior administration official told Axios.
A defense official said they were "skeptical" there would be any extension
Trump suggested Tuesday that the slow pace of Iranian deliberations was holding back talks, noting that Iranian leaders cannot communicate efficiently due to security concerns, and said Iranian leaders had to use children to pass notes back and forth.
One source said Trump was alluding to the means by which Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has been communicating with subordinates.
Trump said U.S. forces have carried out more than 10,000 combat flights over Iran and struck more than 13,000 targets since Feb. 28.
CENTCOM confirmed two service members were recovered after their F-15E jet was downed by a shoulder-fired missile on April 2.
Trump said the downed F-15 was the first manned aircraft lost to enemy fire during the operation.
U.S. Senator Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) announced Monday that Arkansas' 142nd Field Artillery Brigade had departed for the Middle East. "Today, the brave men and women of Arkansas' 142nd Field Artillery Brigade depart for the Middle East," Cotton posted on X. "Arkansas is thankful for their service. May God protect them."
"Trump would take a deal if he got one, but it's unclear if the Iranians are ready. It will be extremely tense until Tuesday at 8 p.m.," a U.S. source close to Trump told Axios.
Since Feb. 28, U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran have killed more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Tehran has retaliated with drone and missile strikes targeting Israel, as well as Jordan, Iraq and Gulf countries hosting U.S. military assets, while restricting movement through the Strait of Hormuz.
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