Trump latest Iran deadline looms – The Latest

Summary

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Podcast Summary: Trump threatens to ‘take out’ Iran … again – The Latest

Podcast: Today in Focus, The Guardian
Host: Lucy Hough
Guest: Julian Borger (Senior International Correspondent, The Guardian)
Date: April 7, 2026
Duration: ≈10 minutes

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Overview

This short-form episode of “Today in Focus: The Latest” examines the heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran amid President Donald Trump’s repeated threats to decimate Iranian infrastructure unless Iran agrees to end the ongoing conflict and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Host Lucy Hough and correspondent Julian Borger discuss the extreme rhetoric, the legality and implications of the threats, the removal of U.S. military guardrails, and why diplomatic efforts—especially those spearheaded by regional powers—remain stalemated.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Trump’s Ultimatum and Escalatory Rhetoric

[00:42, 01:11, 02:03, 02:31]

• Julian Borger characterizes Trump’s repeated threats as “like Groundhog Day, but the groundhog just keeps getting bigger and uglier.”
• Trump issued an ultimatum over the weekend: Iran must reopen the Strait of Hormuz, or face devastation of key infrastructure (bridges, power plants; “power plant day, bridge day...all wrapped up in one”).
• The president’s Truth Social post was described as one of the most extraordinary and expletive-laden statements ever seen from a president, even ending with “praise be to Allah.”
• Growing concerns are voiced about Trump’s “mental stability” and the increasing desperation and frustration in his tone.

Quote:

"It was telling Iran, open the effing Hormuz Strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. And then rounded it off with praise be to Allah." – Julian Borger [02:03]

2. Legality and War Crime Implications

[03:53, 04:44, 05:27]

• Borger explains that targeting a country’s civilian infrastructure to pressure regime change constitutes a clear war crime under the Geneva Conventions and U.S. military law.
• There is no debate among military lawyers that such actions against a civilian population’s life support would be illegal.
• Lucy Hough raises the issue of accountability and the removal of legal constraints within the U.S. administration.

Quote:

"It is very much an attempt to target the civilian population as a way of pressuring a government into surrendering. And under the Geneva Conventions, under US military law, that is a war crime. It is clear cut." – Julian Borger [03:53]

3. Removal of U.S. Military Guardrails

[05:27, 06:16]

• Trump’s Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, has spent the past year purging legal advisors and constraints within the Pentagon, notably the Judge Advocate General’s office and the unit established under Biden to limit civilian harm.
• Hegseth has been explicit that the military’s focus is now “100% on lethality,” doing away with any remaining roadblocks or oversight mechanisms.

Quote:

"Hegseth has explicitly said, we don't want any of these roadblocks on what we can do. We are completely 100% focused on lethality. So he's been open about wishing to get rid of the constraints to get rid of all those guardrails. And now they're gone." – Julian Borger [05:27]

4. Iranian Response and Regional Risks

[06:49, 07:10, 07:22]

• Iran has made clear it would escalate if attacked, targeting oil-producing and desalination facilities in the Gulf—critical infrastructure for both the region and global markets.
• Damage to oil production could have long-term consequences, potentially causing a major economic and energy crisis.

Quote:

"What is quite likely is they will attack some of the targets in the Gulf that up to now they've held back from, which are some of the oil producing facilities, maybe desalination facilities." – Julian Borger [06:49]

5. Diplomatic Efforts and Deadlock

[07:44, 08:19, 09:13]

• Regional actors (Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey) are attempting to mediate a ceasefire, but Trump’s aggressive tactics are undermining these diplomatic efforts.
• Tehran is insisting on a long-term, internationally ratified settlement rather than a temporary or ad hoc agreement, largely due to distrust in Trump’s commitments.
• The stand-off continues, with neither side making tangible gains.

6. The “Groundhog Day” Stalemate

[09:13, 09:36, 09:44, 09:47]

• Trump has repeatedly extended his deadline for Iranian compliance, with threats continuing but little substantial change on the ground.
• Borger suggests that Trump’s credibility is on the line, raising the stakes with each threat.
• The risk: A misstep could result in mutual escalation, deeper crises, and significant consequences for both the U.S. and Iran.

Quote:

“He keeps digging the hole deeper for himself.” – Julian Borger [09:47]

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• Julian Borger on escalating rhetoric:

  “It was like Groundhog Day, but the groundhog just keeps getting bigger and uglier because he's doubled down or tripled down on this.” [00:42]

• On legality:

  “That would almost certainly be a war crime... The question is, is there anyone left in the room now who can say no to Donald Trump?” [03:53]

• On Pentagon changes:

  “Now they're gone.” (referring to guardrails and legal constraints) [06:16]

• On potential for further crisis:

  “If Iran strikes back, the oil price rockets again, Trump is in even worse trouble and so he keeps digging the hole deeper for himself.” [09:47]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:42 – Introduction of Trump’s latest threats, “Groundhog Day” analogy
• 02:03 – Details of the expletive-laden Truth Social post
• 03:53 – Legal assessment: targeting infrastructure as war crime
• 05:27 – Pentagon purges and loss of legal/internal constraints
• 06:49 – Iran’s likely retaliation and risks to Gulf infrastructure
• 07:44 – Diplomatic mediation efforts
• 09:44 – Repeated deadlines and deepening impasse

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Concluding Notes

The episode underscores the volatility and unpredictability at the heart of today’s U.S.-Iran crisis, amplified by extreme presidential rhetoric and the removal of institutional checks within the U.S. military. Regional diplomatic efforts persist, but are constantly undermined by inflammatory U.S. messaging and ongoing mistrust. Borger and Hoff agree: another escalation could trigger not just regional, but global, consequences.

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Transcript

[Lucy Hoff]

This is the Guardian.

[Flipside Podcast Narrator]

From globalization to innovation sustainability to market volatility, there's always more than one side to a story. Explore different perspectives on today's most important business and economic issues with the Flipside podcast from Barclays Investment Bank. Hear two research analysts in a lively debate and get insights from every angle. To further inform your view, listen to the flip side on your favorite platform.

[Julian Borger]

It was like Groundhog Day, but the groundhog just keeps getting bigger and uglier because he's doubled down or tripled down on this. The entire country can be taken out in one night, and that night might be tomorrow night. The real concern is about, we don't know, the mental state of this president and what he will do. Targeting an entire country of 93 million people, all their life support. That would almost certainly be a war crime.

[Lucy Hoff]

Donald Trump warns that an entire civilization will die tonight if Iran doesn't agree to a deal to end the conflict. But how seriously can we take these claims from the Guardians today? In Focus, this is the latest. With me, Lucy Hoff. Well, joining me is Julian Borgia, senior international correspondent at the Guardian. Julian, it's great to have you back with us. It does feel a bit like groundhog hog day at the moment. But we've had sort of attempts at diplomacy to bring the Iran war to an end over the weekend, haven't we? And specifically reopening the Strait of Hormuz. But Donald Trump seems to have very much his own agenda. He's extended his ultimatum to tonight. If not, he's threatening to decimate Iran by targeting bridges, power plants. Tell me about what he's been threatening and why.

[Julian Borger]

Yeah, it was quite the wild weekend on Sunday. We had this truth social post from Trump which was one of the most extraordinary misses from any president in history. It was expletive laden. It was telling Iran, open the effing hummus strait, you crazy bastards, or you'll be living in hell. And then rounded it off with praise be to Allah.

[Lucy Hoff]

Right.

[Julian Borger]

An extraordinary outburst on Easter Sunday and the whole thing just renewed concerns about his mental stability. He's getting more and more desperate. He wants this to be over. He thinks that by continuing to threaten Iran, he can get it over, but it's not getting him there. And so the real concern is about, we don't know, the mental state of this president and what he will do.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah, yeah. And it has been very interesting listening to him speak in the last few days, which obviously we have all had to a lot of just, you know, quite how old he's sounding and as you say, this sense of increasing frustration, even anger maybe that he's not getting what he wants from this war, that he's not getting the quick fix that he got in Venezuela with the capture of Maduro, and that he's dealing with a situation in Iran which is much more complex than perhaps he and his administration anticipated. Just to talk about the specifics of what that truth social post said and what we know about this ultimatum, he's calling this power plant day, bridge day, all wrapped up in one. So essentially bombing essential infrastructure in Iran. Talk to me about the illegality of that, the concerns that that would probably constitute a war crime.

[Julian Borger]

Yeah. I don't think there's much debate among military lawyers, legal experts that targeting an Entire country of 93 million people target all their life support in terms of power and what that means in terms of hospitals, air conditioning and so on, that would almost certainly be a war crime because it is very much an attempt to target the civilian population as a way of pressuring a government into surrendering. And under the Geneva Conventions, under US military law, that is a war crime. It is clear cut. The question is, is there anyone left in the room now who can say no to Donald Trump? This is a war crime.

[Lucy Hoff]

But in terms of accountability and guardrails against any potential illegality, any potential war crimes committed by the US And Israel in Iran, I mean, there are international bodies such as the un, such as the icc, the International Criminal Court, but where are the guardrails within the U.S. administration and indeed sort of U.S. law that would pre this type of action? Because these types of strikes would involve large numbers of civilian casualties. Trump seems to have done away with a lot of those guardrails. And Pete Hegseth, his Defence Secretary, has also been making some serious sort of purges of senior people within the US military who perhaps would caution against this type of action.

[Julian Borger]

Yeah, I'm absolutely right. That's been happening over the last one and a bit years in the Pentagon. Hegseth has been removing the legal constraints. The people in the room from the Judge Advocate General's office who are military lawyers, who would be saying, no, you can't do that. That's a war crime. A lot of those people have gone. A particular unit to limit civilian harm was set up under Biden has gone. And Hegseth has explicitly said, we don't want any of these roadblocks on what we can do. We are completely 100% focused on lethality. So he's been open about wishing to get rid of the constraints to get rid of all those guardrails. And now they're gone.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah. Which is deeply alarming. And you think of the US Military personnel that are potentially being asked to carry out these strikes, the risks of civilian casualties and whether they have the option to opt out. So many questions that we will have to see how this plays out this week. I mean, what do we know about how Iran wants to respond to this? Because they don't want to agree to a temporary ceasefire. Right. They want to end the war completely. But if they are struck by the US in this way, they are likely to retaliate.

[Julian Borger]

Yeah. They've made very clear that they will escalate. And what is quite likely is they will attack some of the targets in the Gulf that up to now they've held back from, which are some of the oil producing facilities, maybe desalination facilities,

[Lucy Hoff]

and desalination plants being facilities that convert salt water into drinking water. So obviously vital infrastructure, as is the energy infrastructure that is also currently under threat.

[Julian Borger]

And also up to now, once Hormuz had been opened, the oil could start flowing. But if damage is being done to oil producing facility, that would mean it would be months, if not years for the oil to be coming out of the Gulf again. And then you have a much deeper economic and energy crisis.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah. Which of course we're already experiencing. And the Gulf states already suffering so much in terms of the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, in terms of their oil exports. Meanwhile. So there have been these talks going on. Pakistan has been taking a leading role in, but we've also had involvement from Egypt and Turkey who are really working towards a ceasefire. How has that process been going? And how frustrating are these sort of bizarre posts from Trump on Truth Social that seem to undermine any kind of grown up efforts to bring this conflict to an end?

[Julian Borger]

Well, Trump believes that he's putting pressure on the Tehran regime to give in, but it's not working. It's unlikely to work. Tehran will not accept, as they stand now in the present position, they will not accept a temporary ceasefire in which they open the Strait of Hormuz, their main leverage point, because they don't know what will happen to them after that. What they're insisting is that in return for some agreement about opening the Strait, they want a long term settlement that isn't just on the word of Donald Trump, but is ratified by Congress by a UN resolution. They want some signs of permanence to any agreement they do. So that is at the moment a very wide gap between the Two sides,

[Lucy Hoff]

obviously, Julian, this is not the first time that Trump has extended this deadline which is related to the forcing Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Is this just this new reality where this deadline keeps getting extended, there keeps being threats of further escalation, but sort of nothing materially changes and a ceasefire nor a kind of full all out war seems to materialize.

[Julian Borger]

Yeah, I mean, I think you were right. You said earlier that it was like Groundhog Day, but the groundhog just keeps getting bigger, uglier.

[Lucy Hoff]

Is that possible?

[Julian Borger]

Because he's doubled down or triple down on this deadline. So the damage to his credibility to pull back once again would be all the greater. And so at some point, I suppose you come to some sort of breaking point, but anything is possible. He may say the Iranians are desperate for a deal and they've made fresh offers even it's not true. Or maybe he'll do some more bombing and claim it was the biggest bombing raid there's ever been. Or he could, he could go for what he is threatening and suffer those consequences. But this is the problem for Trump. What he is threatening could be potentially as damaging to him and his cause as it is to Iran. Because if Iran strikes back, the oil price rockets again, Trump is in the even worse trouble and so he keeps digging the hole deeper for himself.

[Lucy Hoff]

Yeah, he sure does. Well, Julian, thank you so much for your time.

[Julian Borger]

Thank you.

[Lucy Hoff]

That's it for today. My thanks again to Julian Borger, the Guardian's senior international correspondent. You can keep up with his reporting and rolling coverage of the Iran war over@the guardian.com and I'd really urge you to listen to our sister podcast. Full story from Guardian Australia, who'll be covering the arrest of Ben Robert Smith, Australia's most decorated living soldier, who's now been arrested in relation to allegedly war crimes. Thanks for listening to this episode of the Latest, the new evening edition of Today in Focus. Today in Focus will be back in your feeds as usual tomorrow morning. The latest will be back tomorrow night. This episode was presented by me, Lucy Hoff. It was produced by Bryony Moore. The senior producer was Ryan Ramgobin and the lead producer was Zoe Hitch. Chicago 2011, a cop is murdered. Police and prosecutors swear they have the trigger man. He swears he didn't do it. How far will each side go to prove they're right? Like, it's just one bombshell after another,

[Julian Borger]

you know, you're like, what? What?

[Lucy Hoff]

The story of a PlayStation, a brain eating amoeba and the relentless pursuit of justice off duty out now. Listen wherever you get your pieces. Podcasts this is the Guardian.

[Flipside Podcast Narrator]

From globalization to innovation sustainability to market volatility, there's always more than one side to a story. Explore different perspectives on today's most important business and economic issues with the Flipside podcast from Barclays Investment Bank. Hear two research analysts in a lively debate and get insights from every angle to further inform your view. Listen to the Flipside on your favorite platform.