What could Trump’s threat to destroy Iran’s ‘whole civilization’ entail?

Published April 7, 2026 4:29pm ET



President Donald Trump has given Iranian leaders until 8 p.m. Eastern on Tuesday to make a deal to stop or pause the war or else “a whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.”

The ominous threat from the president, roughly 12 hours before his latest deadline, is his most recent warning from the president to the leaders in Tehran, whom he has claimed recently were much more willing to negotiate than their slain predecessors.

Already a print subscriber? Click here to login/register your account

Trusted reporting.Unlimited access.

Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis, and subscriber-only journalism.

Get Unlimited Access

Already a member? Log in

Cancel anytime.