US rejects reports of nuclear plans amid looming Iran deadline

White House Denies Plans for Nuclear Attack on Iran

The White House has stated that it does not have any plans to use nuclear weapons against Iran. The statement comes after President Donald Trump warned that a “whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran does not comply with his demands. Trump’s comments were made in a post on his TruthSocial platform, where he also expressed hope for a positive outcome.

Vice President JD Vance later stated that US forces have the tools to employ certain tactics, which some interpreted as implying that nuclear weapons could be used. However, Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt clarified that only the President knows what actions will be taken.

The original ultimatum was issued by Trump on Saturday, demanding that Iran make a deal to open the Strait of Hormuz or face an assault on key infrastructure. The deadline for this demand is set for 8pm Eastern time (00:00 GMT). Legal experts have expressed concerns about targeting civilian infrastructure, which could be considered a war crime.

Iran has responded defiantly, stating that it will not hesitate to respond in kind if the US attacks civilian facilities. The Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) warned that their response would extend beyond the region if the US military crosses certain red lines.

US strikes have targeted military infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, a key energy export hub. The island is where about 90 percent of Iranian oil is exported from. The US has previously struck the island twice, with the most recent incident occurring on March 14.

Meanwhile, Israel has launched strikes against railways and bridges in Iran, claiming that they were used by the IRGC to transport weapons and military equipment. Gulf countries continue to bear the brunt of Iran’s retaliatory attacks.

Source: Al Jazeera