President Donald Trump threatened to resume attacks on Iran and strike its civilian infrastructure during a Fox News interview on Sunday, April 5, 2026.

This escalation follows surprise strikes by Tehran-backed forces on U.S. and Saudi bases in Iraq. The threat signals a potential shift toward a broader conflict involving civilian targets and the strategic control of global shipping lanes.

The president's remarks were expletive-laden and focused on the failure of Iran to meet a specific demand. Trump set a deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz by Tuesday, April 6, 2026 [1]. He said that failure to comply would result in severe military retaliation.

"I’ll beat the f---ing s--- out of them," Trump said during the interview.

The tension is compounded by the recent attacks on military installations in Iraq. While the president's threats were tied to the shipping deadline, reports also link the rhetoric to the surprise strikes on U.S. and Saudi bases [2, 3].

Control of the Strait of Hormuz remains a central point of contention. The waterway is a critical chokepoint for global oil exports, and the U.S. administration has demanded its opening as a condition for avoiding further escalation. Trump said he would target civilian infrastructure if the deadline is not met [2, 3].

These developments occur as the U.S. manages the aftermath of the strikes in Iraq and maintains a high state of alert in the region. The administration has not provided further specifics on the nature of the civilian infrastructure that would be targeted in the event of a strike.

“"I’ll beat the f---ing s--- out of them."”

The threat to target civilian infrastructure marks a significant departure from standard military targeting, which typically focuses on combatants and command centers. By linking this threat to the Strait of Hormuz, the U.S. is leveraging a critical global economic chokepoint to pressure the Iranian government. This strategy increases the risk of a wider regional war that could disrupt global energy markets and lead to substantial civilian casualties.