Trump Warns Iran 'Whole Civilization Will Die'

President Trump escalated his aggressive rhetoric toward Iran, threatening to wipe out the entirety of the country's civilization if Tehran doesn't cede to his demands by 8 p.m. Tuesday. "A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again. I don't want that to happen, but it probably will," Trump wrote on Truth Social.

Iran cut off direct communications with the U.S. over the threat, though talks with cease-fire mediators continue. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D., N.Y.) referred to Trump as "an extremely sick person" and called on Republicans to intervene, while influential right-wing podcaster Tucker Carlson said U.S. officials should resist any potential attempt by Trump to launch mass attacks that would kill Iranian civilians.