US President Donald Trump has set deadlines, made demands, and issued threats over the course of the five-week joint US-Israeli war against Iran. But seldom have they been this explicit. The new round of strikes against Iran will be devastating, beginning as planned at 20:00 Washington DC time on Tuesday. Trump stressed that 'very little is off-limits'. To avoid this fate, Iran must agree to conditions that benefit the US, including the guarantee of 'free traffic of oil' through the Strait of Hormuz.

As the hours pass, there has been no sign of an agreement from Iran, which has rejected a ceasefire, leading to a delicate scenario for President Trump. With a deadline looming, the possibility that he could once again extend his ultimatum exists but would risk damaging his credibility.

Even amidst military might and successful operations such as the recent intricate rescue mission to retrieve downed airmen, the reality remains that Trump may not have the upper hand as he anticipated. As he contemplates military actions that could lead to significant humanitarian crises and destruction of Iranian infrastructure, Trump admits that rebuilding such a country could take decades.

With pressure mounting, Trump remains cautiously optimistic, urging that the Iranian side is still engaged and potentially willing to strike a deal by tomorrow, though the atmosphere is underlined with skepticism and the threat of force.