'A whole civilization will die tonight': Trump issues ultimatum to Iran

HEADLINES IN BRIEF

- Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" as his Tuesday deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz approached. READ MORE BELOW

- Vice President JD Vance said in Budapest that US military objectives in Iran "have been completed" and that "very shortly, this war will conclude." READ MORE BELOW

- Iran rejects a 45-day ceasefire proposal, says it wants a permanent end to the war. READ MORE BELOW

- An airstrike targeting Iran's Alborz province northwest of Tehran kills at least 18 people. READ MORE BELOW

- Iran's president says that 14 million Iranians have volunteered to sacrifice their lives in the war. READ MORE BELOW

- A gunfight erupts outside the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul, leaving one dead. READ MORE BELOW

- Nearly 1-in-5 service stations in France had run dry of at least one type of fuel Tuesday morning as motorists filled tanks after Easter weekend.

- Pakistan and Egypt urge de-escalation as the deadline for the opening of the Strait of Hormuz set by US President Donald Trump nears.

IN DETAIL

Trump issues civilization-or-deal ultimatum; Vance declares objectives met

US President Donald Trump issued his starkest warning yet on Tuesday, posting on Truth Social that "a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again" if Iran does not meet his deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"We will find out tonight — one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world," Trump wrote. "47 years of extortion, corruption, and death will finally end. God Bless the Great People of Iran."

Trump also declared he is "not at all" concerned about the prospect of committing war crimes, repeating his threat to destroy power plants and bridges across Iran. "The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," he said earlier Monday.

Vice President JD Vance during his visit to Budapest announced that US military objectives "have been completed" and that "very shortly, this war will conclude."

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned Washington that attacks on civilian infrastructure are prohibited under international law.

Tehran rejects ceasefire plan as Trump widens threat to all of Iran's power plants and bridges

Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal and said it wants a permanent end to the war as US President Donald Trump's ultimatum to make a deal ticked closer.

Trump declared on Monday he is "not at all" concerned about committing possible war crimes as he again threatened to destroy Iranian infrastructure if Tehran does not meet his Tuesday 12am GMT deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

"The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night," the US president said.

Washington has told Iran to open the crucial Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic or see power plants and bridges wiped out.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the US that attacking civilian infrastructure is banned under international law, his spokesperson said Monday.

Tehran with its rejection conveyed its own 10-point plan to end the fighting through Pakistan, a key mediator, Iran's state-run IRNA news agency said.

At least 18 people killed in airstrike targeting Iran's Alborz province

An airstrike targeting Iran's Alborz province northwest of Tehran killed at least 18 people, state media reported Tuesday.

The strike also wounded 24 people, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported. It wasn't immediately clear what had been targeted.

Meanwhile, more airstrikes pounded sites across Iran's capital, Tehran, on Monday, including residential areas.

Strikes also were reported in Qom, a city to the south of Tehran.

Iranian state television acknowledged the strikes in an online message, saying more details would be released.

Areas around Parchin, a military base associated with Iran's ballistic missile program, and points south of downtown Tehran were struck.

Khorramabad International Airport also came under attack Tuesday, the judiciary's Mizan news agency reported.

Iran's president says 14 million have volunteered to sacrifice their lives

Facing a looming US deadline, Iran's president said on Tuesday that 14 million Iranians, including himself, have volunteered to sacrifice their lives in the war.

President Masoud Pezeshkian made the comment on X just ahead of US President Donald Trump's deadline to bomb power stations and bridges in Iran if it doesn't loosen its chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

The figure is double other figures mentioned by state media in the past about volunteers the government had been soliciting by text messages and media as the war went on.

Iran is home to 90 million people, and the 14 million figure could be aimed at trying to dissuade the promised American bombing campaign.

"More than 14 million Iranian people have declared their readiness to sacrifice their lives in the (self-sacrificing) campaign," Pezeshkian wrote.

"I too have been, am, and will remain ready to give my life for Iran."

Shots fired outside Israeli Consulate in Istanbul

A gunfight erupted outside a building housing the Israeli Consulate in Istanbul on Tuesday, Turkiye's Haberturk broadcaster reported.

One attacker was killed and two others were wounded in a gunfight with police near the consulate, the city's governor said, adding that two police officers were slightly wounded.

The attackers used rifles and pistols in the assault, Governor Davut Gul told reporters at the scene. He added that there have been no Israeli diplomatic staff at the consulate for 2-1/2 years.

The area surrounding the building was quickly sealed off.

Turkiye's justice minister, Akın Gürlek, said that an investigation would be carried out into the shooting, adding that three prosecutors had been assigned.