Netherlands Concerned Over Trump's Threats Toward Iran

On April 7, Dutch Prime Minister Rob Jetten voiced his apprehension over the threats issued by U.S. President Donald Trump towards Iran. Jetten underscored that Trump's rhetoric 'further distances' the possibility of ending the war in the Middle East, raising alarms within the international community.

This information was reported by the Dutch publication NOS on Tuesday, April 7. The Prime Minister highlighted his worries about potential attacks by the U.S. and Israel on Iran's civilian infrastructure, which he believes contravenes international law.

'Attacks on civilian infrastructure do not align with international law. I hope this remains mere words and does not escalate into action tonight,' stated the Dutch Prime Minister, emphasizing the importance of adhering to international norms in conflict situations.

Jetten's reaction came in response to a post by Trump on the social media platform Truth Social, where the American leader ominously claimed that 'a whole civilization will die tonight,' alluding to a possible strike on Iran. Trump also mentioned that he does not want this to happen, but it is likely to occur. He added that after a regime change in Iran, 'less radical minds' might emerge, potentially leading to positive changes.

'A whole civilization will die tonight, and it will never come back. I do not want this to happen, but it likely will. However, now that there has been a complete and total regime change, where other, smarter, and less radical minds prevail, something revolutionary and wonderful might happen — who knows? We will find out tonight, at one of the most important moments in the long and complicated history of the world,' Trump wrote in his post.

Interestingly, Trump had previously stated that Iran could be destroyed in one night, suggesting that such a night could occur on April 7. He has repeatedly warned that the U.S. could target power plants, bridges, and other infrastructure in Iran if Tehran does not agree to a deal or open the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump issued an ultimatum, stating that Iran must open the strait by 8:00 PM Eastern Time on April 7 (03:00 April 8 Kyiv time). In response to these threats, Tehran warned that if the U.S. continues to strike Iranian infrastructure, 'the gates of hell' would open for the U.S. and Israel. According to CNN, Tehran indicated that it would only fully open the Strait of Hormuz after receiving compensation for the financial damages inflicted on the country due to the war.

On April 6, Axios reported that the U.S. and Iran were discussing terms for a potential 45-day ceasefire through intermediaries, which could lead to a definitive end to the war. On the same day, Reuters, citing sources, reported that Iran had rejected a proposal to conclude the war with the U.S. and Israel, which would have involved Tehran unblocking the Strait of Hormuz for a ceasefire.

Later, CNN reported that Trump did not support the plan presented by the intermediaries. On April 7, The New York Times, referencing three high-ranking Iranian officials, reported that following Trump's threats, Iran informed Pakistani intermediaries that it would no longer negotiate with the United States regarding a ceasefire.