Trump and the “Night Attack” Ultimatum to Iran; Is a Deal Within Reach?

Trump's Ultimatum: Agreement or Infrastructure Destruction? Donald Trump, President of the United States, has once again used threatening language, warning Iran of massive military strikes if a final agreement is not reached. In his latest remarks, echoed by media outlets such as “Yeni Şafak,” he emphasized that if a deal is secured, the “night attack” on Iranian infrastructure will not take place [1]. This threat comes after Trump previously warned that if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully reopened and nuclear conditions are not met, Iran's entire energy infrastructure and bridges would be destroyed in a single night [5]. ## Temporary Halt in Negotiations Out of Respect for the Funeral On July 4, 2026, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of American independence, Trump announced during his speech at Mount Rushmore that Washington has suspended negotiations with Tehran for one week. This decision was made due to the funeral ceremonies for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the late leader of Iran. Trump claimed in his characteristic tone: “We gave them a week because we’re nice people, but they’re dying to make a deal” [2]. This diplomatic pause occurs as military tensions had reached their peak in recent months. ## Details of Doha Negotiations; What Has Iran Accepted? In an interview with CNBC, the US President claimed that Iran has agreed to “almost all of the United States' demands” [3]. According to him, the core of these agreements includes permanently preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and ensuring maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump emphasized that his goal is not regime change, but the complete “nuclear disarmament” of Iran. However, he warned that if negotiations do not yield results after the funeral period, military options remain on the table [3][4]. ## “Negotiation by Bombing” Strategy and International Reactions The Trump administration has pursued a strategy known as “negotiation by bombing” in recent months. Pete Hegseth, the US Secretary of Defense, had previously defended night attacks on Iranian radar and drone facilities, viewing them as part of the pressure to finalize a deal [4]. This approach, which includes threats to destroy “an entire civilization” in case of non-compliance, has faced severe international criticism from the United Nations and human rights organizations, who consider targeting civilian infrastructure a war crime [5]. Currently, Qatari and Pakistani mediators are working to turn the temporary ceasefire into a lasting peace at the end of this one-week pause [3].