US President Donald Trump stated on Sunday, April 5, that a “massive strike” on Tehran has resulted in the deaths of “many” Iranian military leaders.
“Many of Iran’s Military Leaders, who have led them poorly and unwisely, are terminated, along with much else, with this massive strike in Tehran!” Trump wrote on Truth Social, accompanying the post with video footage of explosions.
The announcement comes amid a 48-hour ultimatum issued by Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian military officials responded sharply to the threats, warning that further attacks on the country’s infrastructure would trigger a devastating retaliation.
Major General Ali Abdollahi Aliabadi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, stated that “the gates of hell will be opened” upon the US and Israel if the offensive continues.
Spokesperson Ebrahim Zolfaghari added that any expansion of hostilities would turn the entire region into a “swamp” for Iran’s adversaries, CNN reported.
According to Sky News, Israel is currently preparing for potential strikes on Iranian energy facilities but is awaiting a “green light” from Washington. Such an operation could occur as early as next week if the ultimatum regarding the Strait of Hormuz is not met.
The major escalation follows a Saturday morning strike near the Bushehr nuclear power plant, which killed a security guard and damaged a building on the site. While the IAEA confirmed no increase in radiation levels, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi described the repeated attacks on the facility as a “significant threat” to regional safety.
The conflict, which began on Feb. 28 following US-Israeli strikes that killed Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, has entered a critical phase. Trump recently requested a record $1.5 trillion defense budget for fiscal year 2027 to sustain the campaign, which he previously described as “almost complete.”
However, Tehran has dismissed Washington’s ceasefire overtures as “maximalist and irrational,” maintaining that no direct negotiations are currently taking place.