President Donald Trump used a news conference to flaunt a daring rescue of a downed Air Force colonel while warning Iran of escalating force. He said the United States would strike bridges and power plants unless Tehran agreed to a cease‑fire by 8 p.m. Tuesday. The ultimatum hinged on reopening free oil traffic through the Persian Gulf, a route that closed when the war began.

Trump pressed Vice President JD Vance to lead negotiations, yet offered no details on the terms beyond the oil corridor. He warned Europe that the U.S. desired Greenland, suggesting broader strategic ambitions. When pressed about war‑crime implications of targeting civilian infrastructure, the president replied, “I hope I don’t have to do it,” sidestepping legal concerns.

The president capped the briefing by boasting that “hundreds” of service members rescued the colonel, refusing to disclose exact numbers. He threatened jail for any reporter who revealed the source of the leak, echoing a pattern of press intimidation. With oil markets jittery and sanctions looming, the hardline stance offers little clarity on how U.S. businesses will navigate the Gulf’s disrupted supply chain.