Trump threatens to ‘take out’ Iran in one night

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) --

President Donald Trump warned that "the entire country can be taken out in one night" as he threatened to destroy Iran's power plants and bridges if Tehran failed to meet his ultimatum for a deal.

The warning came after Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal, insisting instead on a permanent end to the conflict.

"That night might be tomorrow night," Trump said, suggesting his Tuesday 8 p.m. ET deadline was final and asserting that he had already given Iran ample extensions.

The United States demanded that Iran reopen the strategically crucial Strait of Hormuz to all shipping traffic or face the destruction of key infrastructure, raising concerns over potential violations of international law. Tensions escalated further as Israel struck a major petrochemical plant and killed the intelligence chief of Iran's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

In response, Tehran outlined its own 10-point plan to end hostilities, communicated through Pakistan, a key mediator, according to Iran's state-run IRNA news agency.

"We only accept an end of the war with guarantees that we won't be attacked again," Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran's diplomatic mission in Cairo, told The Associated Press.