President Donald Trump escalated tensions in the Middle East on Monday by declaring that he is “not at all concerned” about the possibility of committing war crimes if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz before Tuesday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time.

Speaking during a White House press conference, Trump reiterated his ultimatum to Tehran and warned that the United States could destroy Iran’s energy and transportation infrastructure within hours.

“All of Iran could be eliminated in one night, and that night could be tomorrow,” the president said. He also stated that “every bridge and every power plant” in the country could be destroyed if Iran fails to comply with his demands.

When reporters asked whether any civilian targets would be off limits in a potential military operation, Trump declined to give a direct answer.

“Very little is off limits,” he said, before adding that he is “not at all worried” about whether such actions could be considered war crimes.

Trump’s remarks triggered immediate international concern, as international humanitarian law prohibits the deliberate targeting of civilian infrastructure such as bridges, power plants and basic utility networks.

Meanwhile, Iran rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal advanced by regional mediators, including Pakistan. Iran’s state news agency IRNA reported that Tehran, through Islamabad, responded that it would only accept a permanent end to the war and concrete guarantees that it would not be attacked again.

“We only accept an end to the war with guarantees that we will not be attacked again,” Mojtaba Ferdousi Pour, head of Iran’s diplomatic mission in Cairo, said.

The proposal included a temporary 45-day truce and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important maritime routes for the transport of oil and natural gas. However, Tehran considers a limited pause insufficient.

At the same time, the military escalation continued Monday when Israel confirmed a new strike on the South Pars petrochemical complex in Asaluyeh, southern Iran.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said the facility accounts for nearly 50% of Iran’s petrochemical production. According to Katz, the strike disabled a key piece of infrastructure vital to Iran’s economy and to the financing of operations by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

South Pars Gas Field is considered the world’s largest natural gas field and a central pillar of Iran’s energy sector. A previous Israeli strike on the same area in March triggered a major Iranian retaliation against oil and gas facilities in Gulf Arab countries.

The combination of Trump’s threats, Iran’s rejection of a temporary truce and the new Israeli attacks has significantly increased the risk of a broader regional conflict, with potentially serious consequences for global energy markets, maritime shipping and stability across the Middle East.