Trump Iran deadline: US threatens massive strikes as Tehran rejects ceasefire deal.

[0:00] Trump insists that Tuesday is the deadline for Iran to make a deal to end the war. He says the [0:05] conflict could end very quickly if Tehran does the things it needs to do. Trump's repeated his [0:11] threat, warning the country will be left without any power plants or bridges if it doesn't agree [0:16] to a deal. We have a plan because of the power of our military where every bridge in Iran will [0:26] be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, [0:35] burning, exploding, and never to be used again. I mean, complete demolition by 12 o'clock, [0:42] and it will happen over a period of four hours if we want it to. We don't want that to happen. [0:48] Earlier, Iran responded to a Pakistan-led cease-fire initiative. Tehran is demanding [0:53] a permanent end to the war with the U.S. and Israel. The Iranian foreign minister [0:57] said that Tehran is not ready for a cease-fire. Tehran is not ready for a cease-fire. Tehran is [0:58] not ready for a cease-fire. Tehran is not ready for a cease-fire. The Iranian foreign ministry has [0:58] also said it will not negotiate under threats. We're going to get reaction from Tehran in a [1:03] moment. First, let's go to Heidi Drogastro in Washington, D.C. So let's talk about [1:08] Donald Trump's deadline. He's been speaking about other stuff as well. What's he been saying? [1:12] HEIDI DROGASTRO, Tehran Foreign Minister Right. Well, he called a press conference [1:15] to talk about the daring rescue of that U.S. airman who was downed over Iran [1:22] and took more than 150 U.S. airplanes to conduct that rescue successfully. But then he quickly [1:29] shifted back to those threats against Iran and reiterated the deadline of 8 p.m. Washington time [1:36] Tuesday, in which he said if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz by that time, that the U.S. [1:42] would destroy every bridge and every power plant in Iran. He said the entire country [1:48] would be taken out and that it would take 100 years to rebuild it. [1:53] Now, when asked by journalists how he would square that with committing war crimes as [1:59] targeting civilian infrastructure falls under, under international law, well, he evaded that [2:05] question. He said he didn't want to take these actions, he said, which would be a four-hour-long [2:11] bombing campaign. But we have known that he has postponed deadlines on Iran in the past. [2:17] And, notably, even as Trump was speaking, the price of crude oil ticked up, [2:23] as investors again felt threatened that he would make good on these promises. [2:28] LISA DESJARDINS, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, [2:28] CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, [2:29] CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, CNN NEWSHOUR CORRESPONDENT, [2:29] Turkish journalists. Well, Iran has counted up a cease-fire initiative presented by Pakistan. [2:33] In return, Iran has listed ten points which it says are based on past experiences in negotiations. [2:39] Tehran says it has rejected a cease-fire, emphasizing the need for a permanent end to the [2:45] war, with respect for its demands. It says the deal must encompass an end to regional conflicts and [2:52] that it must include a protocol for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reconstruction and [2:58] the lifting of basiligi unter thecontainer, which means all security process from Iran will have to keep begin online until by October 6th 2015. [2:59] of sanctions. [3:00] I'm going to bring in Mohammad Val. [3:01] He's in Tehran for us. [3:02] So tell us more about Iran's response to this initiative from Pakistan. [3:05] Well, yes, we have seen that in the past they had five points, but now they have 10 points [3:14] in response to the American initiative or the American proposal made up of 15 points. [3:19] So at least now there is a little bit of clarity about the Iranian position. [3:24] They are now saying that they have responded to the offer for negotiations and they have [3:28] talked about 10 points. [3:30] You mentioned some of them. [3:31] I can also remind that they are talking about the lifting of sanctions. [3:35] They are talking about a kind of compromise regarding the enrichment of uranium, and that's [3:40] something they had even talked about. [3:41] They said they had even talked about that even before the beginning of this war. [3:45] So it's not done under pressure, but under the pressure of the war. [3:49] Even before this war started, the Iranians were already at the negotiation table talking [3:54] about some kind of acceptance of limitation on the enrichment of uranium. [3:59] But also among those points is a protest. [4:01] There is a protocol for the safe passage through the state of Hormuz. [4:05] And linked to that is an Iranian demand that Iran can extract fees to help it rebuild and [4:11] to help it compensate the loss in this war, the destruction that happened across the country [4:15] because of this war. [4:17] They want a permanent, not a ceasefire, they want a permanent end to this war. [4:21] And they want it on all fronts in the region. [4:24] That implies Hezbollah and Houthis and everyone who is related to the Iranians or their allies [4:30] in the region. [4:32] They want a protocol on reconstruction, as I said, lifting of sanctions and compensations [4:38] in the way that they have explained. [4:40] So 10 points there, most permanent, most paramount among them, these that I mentioned, and there [4:47] is no compromise. [4:48] There is no compromise regarding these points. [4:51] So far, they are not willing to engage in serious negotiations if there is no preliminary [4:57] acceptance, at least in principle, that some of these demands or most of them are going [5:02] to be met. [5:02] WILLIAM BRANGHAM. [5:03] Mohammed, stay with me just for a second. [5:04] I want to go back to Haile Jocastro in Washington, D.C. [5:08] So Mohammed was outlining Iran's response to the Pakistan proposal that was put forward. [5:14] How has Donald Trump been responding to Iran's proposal? [5:17] MOHAMMED JOSEPH BIDEN, Former President of the United States of America, Yes, well, Trump [5:19] refused to talk details about the ceasefire proposal, but he called it a significant step. [5:25] He said, too, that the people in Iran who are negotiating now, those parties, he said, [5:29] were more reasonable, because, again, he repeated the claim that the U.S. has to do something. [5:33] He said the U.S. has been successful in what he calls regime change. [5:37] He said the people who are remaining are not as radicalized with whom the U.S. is making [5:42] these negotiations with the help of Pakistan. [5:45] He also, again, reiterated the varying shifting purposes of this war for the U.S., saying [5:52] that it's about one thing, that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon. [5:56] But then he also says that it's about the U.S. potentially taking oil. [6:00] DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States of America, They made a proposal, and it's [6:05] a significant step. [6:05] It's not good enough, but it's a very significant step. [6:06] If I had my choice, what would I like to do? [6:07] Take the oil, because it's there for the taking. [6:08] There's not a thing they can do about it. [6:09] Unfortunately, the American people would like to see us come home. [6:10] If it were up to me, I'd take the oil. [6:11] I'd keep the oil. [6:12] I would make plenty of money. [6:13] LISA DESJARDINS, CNN CORRESPONDENT, Now, there's been a bit of conflicting information, [6:30] because other U.S. officials have said that the plan presented by Pakistan from Iran was [6:36] maximalist and unacceptable, but then Trump also went on to say that this is progress [6:41] and that he believes that Iran is an active and willing participant on the other side [6:47] of these negotiations. [6:48] GEOFF BENNETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT, Thank you very much indeed. [6:52] Well, the secretary of defense says U.S. forces will carry out more intense strikes on Iran [6:57] on Monday than any other day since the war started, with plans to further escalate on [7:03] Tuesday. [7:05] DONALD TRUMP, President of the United States of America, Per the president's direction, [7:06] will be the largest volume of strikes since day one of this operation, tomorrow even more [7:12] than today. [7:13] And then Iran has a choice, choose wisely, because this president does not play around. [7:21] You can ask Soleimani. [7:23] You can ask Maduro. [7:25] You can ask Khomeini. [7:26] GEOFF BENNETT, CNN CORRESPONDENT, Well, PDX has made the comments after Israel targeted [7:30] Iran's largest petrochemical facility linked to the South Pars gas field. [7:35] The site is a critical energy hub. [7:37] It's accounting for around half of Tehran's petrochemical production. [7:41] A previous Israeli strike there in March triggered Iranian retaliation against energy [7:46] targets across the Gulf. [7:48] South Pars forms part of a 9,700-square-kilometre gas field. [7:53] It's the largest on Earth, and it's jointly held by Iran and Qatar. [7:58] It's the backbone of Iran's energy. [7:59] It supplies around 80 percent of the country's domestic natural gas. [8:04] Stretching beneath the Gulf, the field is divided. [8:07] Roughly one-third lies within Iran's territory, as South Pars. [8:09] And it's the largest on Earth. [8:10] And it's the backbone of Iran's energy. [8:11] But the larger part extends into Qatari waters. [8:13] And it's known as the North Dome field. [8:16] We're going to go back to Mohammed Valle in Tehran. [8:19] So, an attack on South Pars field for a second time. [8:23] What's the reaction there? [8:24] MOHAMMED VALLE, Tehran's Energy Director, Well, here, it's considered a red line. [8:30] And this is the second time it has been attacked. [8:34] Probably the good news is that the main component of the facility hasn't been destroyed or touched [8:38] in this attack. [8:39] It's two units that provide electricity to it. [8:42] So it's like a shot across the border. [8:44] across the bow again regarding this facility that for the iranians is vital and they had [8:50] remember that in the past when a couple weeks ago it was hit they reacted and they struck back [8:56] against the qatar facilities uh lng facilities in ras lafan so again because the iranians have [9:04] pledged that they would retaliate in kind anytime they are their facilities are hit we don't know [9:10] what's going to happen but we know that a red line has been crossed and they are very angry [9:14] about it and there is a lot of strong statements here among the field commanders of the irgc and [9:21] the army that iran is going is sticking to its uh approach to this war that there will be [9:27] retaliation we don't know what type of retaliation is going to happen we don't know if the negotiations [9:32] are going to stand in the way of that type of retaliation because there are political [9:38] talks and efforts going on across the region to [9:43] to reduce the tenancy [9:44] but as i said south pars is very vital for iran it is a red line and it has been crossed for the [9:50] second time in this war but it is not just uh that it there is also a petrochemical facility [9:56] in marv dash that has been hit and airports also vital airports two or three three of them i think [10:05] rumia in the northwest and koi have also been attacked so as you said [10:10] the campaign is on and every night it is every night and every day it is more [10:13] more more comprehensive in scope and the iranians are promising retaliation so that means more [10:19] escalation every single day in this war i bring it down for us from tehran that's muhammad val thank [10:24] you very much uh joining us now is cheetah parsi he's executive vice president of the quincy [10:29] institute for responsible statecraft thank you very much indeed for being with us donald trump's [10:33] deadline is getting closer do you think iran has got time to make some sort of comprehensive deal [10:40] or indeed does it actually have the incentive to do that [10:43] do that? Well, first of all, the Iranians have given a response to the U.S. and their own [10:50] proposal, which Trump has publicly reacted to in a limited way. It's unclear whether he will accept [10:56] it or if it will be a basis for a negotiation. But when it comes to the U.S.'s proposal, it's [11:02] been rejected, and I don't think that should surprise anyone. Given the U.S. and Israel's [11:07] track record in Gaza and in Lebanon, in which ceasefires were immediately violated and turned [11:14] into one-sided ceasefires, while the U.S. or Israel used that time only to be able to regroup [11:20] and relaunch war, it is quite understandable that the Iranians are rejecting anything that [11:25] smells like a ceasefire, in which Iran gives up all of its leverage in phase one, and then when [11:30] time comes for the U.S. to reciprocate in phase two, phase two is never reached. That's what we've [11:36] seen in Gaza. That's what we've seen in Lebanon. And as a result, I don't think the Iranians are [11:41] in any way, shape, or form incentivized to accept the American proposal. [11:44] Whether the U.S. accepts the Iranian proposal is, of course, a different matter. [11:48] The U.S. proposal has 15 points on it. Iran's latest proposal, Mohammad Val was just describing [11:53] to us, has 10 points on it. But the statements that have been coming out, particularly from [11:57] Donald Trump over the last few hours, tend to be focused on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's [12:02] nuclear program. Now, if those are the two key elements of this, could that make it easier [12:10] to at least head towards negotiations? [12:14] If it is on the nuclear issue, there is some reason for limited optimism, because it appears [12:24] that the Iranian position has not hardened that much since they offered their proposal back in [12:30] Geneva, which was a very strong proposal that Trump should have accepted, a much stronger deal [12:35] than what Obama managed to get. On the Straits, it appears that it may end up being a scenario [12:41] in which essentially there is no real deal. The Iranians will continue to retain a degree of [12:46] control over it. They will continue to maintain a degree of control over it. They will continue to [12:47] take transit fees, perhaps in coordination with Oman, perhaps other GCC states. But it's not going [12:53] to be a return back to the normal that existed prior to the war, because the U.S. lacks the [12:59] military ability to do so. And if the U.S. cannot do it, then no other country can either. [13:05] And that may then, you know, it may be quite desirable from the Iranian side, but it may also [13:11] end up becoming acceptable to Trump, mindful of the fact that the U.S. is not using the Straits [13:16] in the same manner. [13:17] The U.S. is not using the Straits in the same manner that Asian countries are, who get so much more of their energy from the Persian Gulf compared to the U.S. But it will definitely be marking a significant change in the geopolitics of the region if this current situation ends up becoming the new status quo. [13:30] In a sense, we've been here a couple of times before, haven't we, because with Donald Trump making threats and at the same time saying, oh, negotiations are going really well, and as a result of those negotiations happening, then the proposed threats that he puts forward are kind of postponed. [13:46] Do you think that the U.S. will be able to do that? [13:47] Do you think that the U.S. will be able to do that? [13:47] Do you think that there is a possibility that we could see the same thing happening again, or do you think that Trump is now in a situation where he has to be seen to take some action in the event that to not do so would actually undermine whatever credibility he might feel he has? [14:02] Well, one of the benefits Trump has is that he frankly doesn't have much credibility, so he doesn't have much to lose. [14:10] I can definitely see a scenario in which if he thinks that there's some reason for him to extend the deadline, he'll just do so. [14:18] He's already done so several times. [14:18] Several times in the last 35 days, and that hasn't in any way, shape, or form dramatically changed the status of his credibility. [14:27] The question is really whether there is promise in the two positions that the U.S. and Iran are taking in which there can be a pathway towards some sort of agreement, or if this ends up being a scenario in which Trump just continues to bomb for another two weeks and then just walks away without a deal, but essentially declares victory and leaves the Iranians. [14:48] So he's in control of this trace, but essentially says, well, that's not America's headache. [14:52] That will be the headache of Asian countries, European countries, GCC countries, but not America's. [14:58] Tita Parsi, as always, we appreciate you joining us in Al Jazeera, giving us the benefit of your thoughts on this. [15:02] Thank you very much indeed for your time. [15:04] Thank you. Appreciate it. [15:06] Well, Gulf countries are undertaking a unified effort to bring the U.S. and Iran back to the negotiating table. [15:12] In a phone call with Iran's foreign minister, the foreign minister of Qatar impressed upon his counterpart that a diplomatic solution, [15:19] way to resolve the current crisis in their conversation qatar denounced iran's continued [15:24] targeting of gulf countries russell seder has more from tehran so it is a regional crisis and the [15:33] regional countries are saying that this must be resolved through the regional initiative so since [15:39] march 18 since iran's attacked on the raslaf and gas fields in qatar this is the first time [15:45] he was seeing that the qatari prime minister and the foreign minister sheikh muhammad bin [15:49] al-durham al-thani having a full call with his iranian counterpart abbas araxi and during the [15:57] phone so he emphasized and in a need for an immediate cessation of the hostilities and he [16:05] also condemned the iranian attacks on the gcc countries as well and once again according to [16:11] the official statement he's reiterated qatar's position when it comes to support the diplomacy [16:18] indeed qataris have been [16:19] quite clear about it they say that they again and again that they are not a part of the mediation [16:26] efforts here they are not a party at the table however they are supporting diplomacy because they [16:30] say there is no way out of this crisis but diplomacy any armed conflict has to be resolved [16:37] at the negotiating table and then also today we have seen a phone call between the turkish foreign [16:43] minister hakan fidan and abbas araxi on the other hand there are several parallel phone calls that [16:48] are happening [16:49] among the major regional companies the first gathering of the major regional countries was [16:55] in riyadh on march 19 so in saudi arabia to hear pakistan and egypt and then since then [17:03] they have established some contact lines between tehran and washington trying to bridge the gap [17:10] between the position of these two countries so wrestle sadr reporting there from the saudi [17:15] capital riyadh now reporters asked the u.s president how striking iranian infrastructure [17:20] could not be a war crime donald trump replied quote because they're animals his comments follow [17:27] a warning from the european union against attacks on civilian infrastructure european council [17:33] president antonio costa says such actions are illegal as tensions rise following u.s threats [17:39] against iran in a post on social media costa said any targeting of civilian infrastructure [17:45] namely energy facilities is illegal and unacceptable this applies to russia's [17:50] and ukraine and it applies everywhere the iranian civilian population is the main victim [17:56] of the iranian regime it would also be the main victim of a widening of the military campaign [18:03] and the un has also warned that u.s attacks in iran's civilian infrastructure could amount to war [18:08] crimes it would constitute violations of international law and i think whether something [18:15] is a crime or not a crime would have to be decided by a court but they any attack on civilian [18:21] infrastructure is a violation of the international law and the iranian government is a violent criminal [18:22] of international law, and a very clear one. [18:26] Mariake de Geun is an associate professor of international criminal law [18:29] at the University of Amsterdam. [18:32] She says that US attacks on civilian infrastructures [18:34] and announcing them blatantly are evidence of crimes against humanity. [18:41] These attacks on civilian infrastructure and announcing them also [18:44] that there will be even more of them, and indeed those are war crimes. [18:49] If you intentionally attack civilian objectives, [18:52] then you cannot argue that that is lawful. [18:55] And there can be an exception to that if these civilian objectives [19:00] like bridges and power plants, if they really provide [19:03] an effective contribution to military advantage [19:06] and also would really offer definitive military advantage. [19:12] But that is a very high threshold, and the International Criminal Court [19:16] has also explained when it issued arrest warrants [19:20] for exactly these types of war crimes, [19:22] against Russian leaders for attacking power plants in Ukraine, [19:27] that the expected civilian harm clearly exceeds [19:31] the expected military advantage in such attacks. [19:35] So I think this looks very much like war crimes. [19:39] And what is also important is that the rhetoric that the US is using, [19:43] and also Israel, is that the entire country can be taken out, [19:48] we just heard a couple of days ago, bombing Iran back to the Stone Age. [19:52] That is a very high threshold, and the International Criminal Court [19:52] has also said that this is a very high threshold. [19:53] And that really implies that it's an attack also on the civilian population, [19:56] that it is not so much about trying to achieve these military advantage, [20:01] or at least to do that through an attack on the civilian population, [20:05] and that would also qualify as crimes against you.