US President Donald Trump on Sunday (April 5, 2026) issued an expletives-laden warning to Tehran, saying the American military would strike Iran’s power plants and bridges from Tuesday (April 7).
In response, Iran threatened that its military would retaliate in the same measure against American and Israeli infrastructure in the Gulf region, escalating the five-week-old war.
Russia jumped in to deplore the expletives used by Trump, asking him to watch and measure his language and to return to the diplomatic table to resolve the Gulf situation.
Trump’s Intemperate Words, Warning to Iran
Trump, in his remarks, said the US military would hit Iran’s power plants and bridges if Tehran does not open the Strait of Hormuz for cargo traffic.
He posted on his social media platform, Truth Social, that Iran will be living in hell if the narrow waterway, currently blockaded by Tehran, isn’t opened.
“Tuesday will be Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!! Open the Fuckin’ Strait, you crazy bastards, or you’ll be living in Hell – JUST WATCH! Praise be to Allah. President DONALD J. TRUMP,” his post read.
Later on Sunday, he posted again, giving a more precise deadline of: “Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!”
Iran Warns of Retaliation in Equal Measure
Responding to Trump’s threats, Iran on Sunday (April 5) vowed to respond “in kind” to American attacks against its infrastructure.
“Our armed forces have made it clear that in case Iran’s infrastructure is attacked, we would react in kind,” Iran’s foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei was quoted as saying.
“Our armed forces would target any similar infrastructure that is owned or in any way or manner related to the United States or contributes to their act of aggression against Iran,” he added.
Iran’s Parliament Speaker, Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, also warned against “reckless” US action.
“Your reckless moves are dragging the United States into a living HELL for every single family, and our whole region is going to burn because you insist on following Netanyahu’s commands,” the Iranian legislator said.
“Make no mistake: You won’t gain anything through war crimes. The only real solution is respecting the rights of the Iranian people and ending this dangerous game,” Ghalibaf added.
Trump’s expletive-filled threats also invited criticism back home, with Democratic Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer posting on X: “Happy Easter, America. As you head off to church and celebrate with friends and family, the President of the United States is ranting like an unhinged madman on social media.”
Schumer added, “He’s threatening possible war crimes and alienating allies. This is who he is, but this is not who we are. Our country deserves so much better.”
Russia Asks Trump to Watch His Language on Iran
Meanwhile, Russia waded into the war of words between the US and Iran, advising Trump to return to the negotiation table, while also denouncing the language used in the US President’s threats on social media.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov on Sunday (April 6) said Washington should abandon “the language of ultimatums” and return to negotiations.
Lavrov’s comments came during a telephone conversation with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi, after Trump had issued his threats to strike Tehran’s power plants and bridges if cargo traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, which was not opened by Tuesday (April 7).
Lavrov and Araghchi also called on Washington to halt “illegal attacks on civilian infrastructure”, such as the Bushehr nuclear power plant, where Russian staff have been working as technicians.
“The Russian side expressed hope that the efforts undertaken by several states to de-escalate tensions around Iran will be successful,” said a Moscow read-out of Lavrov’s conversation with Iran’s Abbas Araghchi.
It added that “would be facilitated by the United States abandoning the language of ultimatums and returning the situation to a negotiating track”.
The latest Gulf war has entered its sixth week, with both the US-Israel combine and Iran unrelenting in their respective positions on escalating the conflict further.