Former U.S. President Barack Obama’s ex-adviser Ben Rhodes has described President Donald Trump’s Middle East policy as disastrous. In a post on social media platform X, Rhodes said the decision to launch a military operation in Iran has created a catastrophic situation even under the best circumstances.

Rhodes stated that the decision to start a war against Iran marks one of the most shameful chapters in U.S. history, regardless of what happens next. He added that Trump’s actions have destroyed the United States’ standing on the global stage.

Rhodes further predicted that more global economic turmoil is likely to follow and claimed that Trump’s decisions have strengthened and enriched Russian President Vladimir Putin. The comments were reported by Al Jazeera.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced on his social media platform TruthSocial that the United States will assist in managing traffic congestion in the Strait of Hormuz. In his post, Trump stated that the U.S. would be present with all necessary supplies to ensure smooth operations and described the situation as a potential 'golden age' for the Middle East. He also mentioned that significant profits could be made and that Iran might begin a reconstruction process.

According to an earlier Associated Press report cited by Al Jazeera, under a ceasefire agreement, fees collected from ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz would be directed to an Iranian reconstruction fund. Trump did not provide details on how the U.S. role would be implemented or what specific actions would be taken.

The announcement suggests a possible shift in U.S. involvement in the region’s maritime operations, though the scope and timeline of this assistance remain unspecified.

U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed that the United States achieved a 'complete and final victory' in its war with Iran. In an interview with AFP, Trump said the claim followed the signing of a two-week ceasefire agreement between Washington and Tehran. He described the outcome as 'complete and final victory, one hundred percent,' adding that there could be no question about it. When asked whether he would carry out his earlier threat to destroy Iran’s civilian infrastructure if Tehran violated the agreement, Trump declined to answer, saying only that people would have to wait.

Earlier, after Trump announced a two-week suspension of attacks on Iran, Iran’s Supreme Security Council welcomed the decision in a statement. Israel also agreed to halt its attacks. Following the announcement of the ceasefire, global oil prices dropped by 10 percent, according to CNN.

The developments mark a temporary pause in hostilities, though uncertainty remains about the durability of the truce and future U.S.-Iran relations.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has called for the immediate removal of U.S. President Donald Trump from office. The organization urged Congress to begin impeachment proceedings and to invoke the 25th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. This marks the first time in the NAACP’s 117-year history that it has taken such a strong stance against a sitting president.

NAACP President Derrick Johnson described Trump as “unfit, unhealthy, and mentally unstable,” asserting that the president’s recent statements and behavior pose a serious threat to the country. The group’s demand reflects growing concern within civil rights circles about the president’s conduct and its potential impact on national stability.

The call for removal underscores the NAACP’s willingness to confront what it views as a constitutional and moral crisis, though the next steps in the political process remain uncertain.

The White House has described a two-week ceasefire as both a diplomatic and military success, portraying it as the beginning of a potential long-term peace. Press Secretary Caroline Levitt stated that President Donald Trump and the U.S. military were responsible for achieving the ceasefire. According to her, Trump had anticipated the conflict would last four to six weeks, and within 38 days the United States had met and surpassed its main military objectives.

Levitt added that the success of the U.S. military created maximum strategic pressure, enabling Trump and his team to engage in difficult negotiations that opened a path toward diplomatic resolution and lasting peace. She also claimed that Trump had successfully reopened maritime navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, Iran’s National Security Council said it agreed to the two-week ceasefire because it believed nearly all its wartime goals had been achieved. The council announced plans to join talks in Islamabad to consolidate battlefield gains through political dialogue.

The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) has called for the immediate removal of U.S. President Donald Trump through impeachment or the 25th Amendment. The organization’s president, Derrick Johnson, stated that Trump is unfit, unstable, and dangerous, emphasizing that his words and actions pose serious concern for the nation.

Johnson argued that when the person holding the country’s highest office disregards truth, stability, and the welfare of the American people, it becomes a threat to both the nation and the world. He insisted that Trump must be removed from office without delay. The statement was reported by Al Jazeera and published by Amar Desh on April 8, 2026.

The call reflects growing alarm within civil rights circles over Trump’s leadership and its potential impact on national stability, though the report did not specify any official response from the U.S. government or political leaders.

U.S. President Donald Trump has postponed a planned military strike on Iran for two weeks, just hours after threatening to destroy Iranian civilization. The announcement came shortly before the original deadline for the attack. Trump stated that the temporary suspension would remain in effect only if Iran immediately and fully ensured safe passage for ships through the strategic Strait of Hormuz.

According to the report, Trump made this decision following an 11-hour special proposal from Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump said he agreed to the two-week suspension at the request of Sharif and Pakistan’s army chief, General Asim Munir. He described the move as a “mutual ceasefire” between both sides.

The condition attached to the suspension underscores the importance of the Strait of Hormuz for international maritime trade. The situation remains tense as the two-week period begins, with the ceasefire dependent on Iran’s compliance.

Amnesty International Secretary General Agnès Callamard has condemned U.S. President Donald Trump’s increasingly aggressive rhetoric against Iranians. In a post on X, she said Trump’s verbal attacks are growing in intensity and violence, warning that they are not merely words but actions that could have real-world consequences.

Callamard stated that such rhetoric often leads to targeted, indiscriminate, or disproportionate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure. She described the situation as terrifying and questioned how people could protect themselves from threats to their very existence. Her remarks highlighted the potential for escalating tensions to harm populations across Iran, Lebanon, Israel, and Gulf countries.

Citing Al Jazeera as the source, the report underscores Amnesty’s concern over the humanitarian risks of inflammatory political language and its call for restraint to prevent further regional instability.

The White House on Tuesday dismissed suggestions that the United States would use a nuclear weapon against Iran after President Trump warned that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Tehran failed to reach a deal by an 8 p.m. deadline. The administration’s Rapid Response account on X called such claims baseless, responding to a post implying that Vice President Vance’s remarks in Hungary hinted at nuclear options. Press secretary Karoline Leavitt reiterated that only the president knows what actions he will take if Iran does not comply by the deadline.

The controversy followed Trump’s social media posts setting the 8 p.m. deadline and threatening severe consequences if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. also struck military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, a key hub for the country’s oil exports. Vice President Vance said the strike did not represent a change in strategy but emphasized that the president understands leverage and expects a response from Iran by the deadline.

The White House’s firm denial aimed to counter speculation about nuclear escalation while maintaining pressure on Tehran to respond to U.S. demands.

Pope Leo, the first American pope in the history of the Catholic Church, has openly criticized U.S. President Donald Trump for issuing what he called an “unacceptable” threat against Iran. Speaking on April 8, 2026, the pontiff referred to Trump’s post warning that an entire civilization could be destroyed if Iran did not open the Strait of Hormuz, calling it a threat directed at all Iranian people.

Pope Leo, known as a vocal critic of the Iran war, urged people worldwide to contact their political representatives to help end the escalating regional conflict. His remarks came amid growing international concern over tensions between Washington and Tehran.

Earlier, the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops released a statement urging President Trump to step back from the brink of war and pursue a fair settlement in the interest of peace, according to Al Jazeera.

Michael Becker, a professor of international human rights law at Trinity College Dublin, described former U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat as both morally reprehensible and legally unacceptable. Becker said Trump’s statement, which implied indiscriminate destruction, suggested the possibility of large-scale war crimes. He added that any attack on Iranian civilians would constitute a crime against humanity.

Becker referred to Trump’s social media post in which he wrote that “an entire civilization will be destroyed tonight,” though Trump also claimed he did not want that to happen. Becker argued that whether the language was genocidal was irrelevant, as the statement itself represented an unlawful threat of further aggression. He urged members of the Republican Party to unconditionally condemn such shameful remarks.

The comments were reported by Al Jazeera and come amid heightened tensions following deadly missile attacks near the Iraq-Iran border and growing international criticism of Trump’s rhetoric toward Iran.

White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt announced that Iran has been given seven hours to reach an agreement with the United States. She stated that if Tehran fails to comply, only President Trump knows how he will respond. Levitt told Al Jazeera that the Iranian government has until 8 p.m. Eastern Time to address the current challenge and finalize a deal with Washington.

The statement highlights a tense diplomatic moment between the United States and Iran, with the White House emphasizing that the president alone is aware of the potential course of action. The situation comes amid heightened regional tensions and ongoing disputes involving Iran’s activities and international negotiations.

The source also mentions related developments, including Iran’s vice president dismissing Trump’s threats, a Chinese and Russian veto on a UN Security Council resolution over the Strait of Hormuz, and reports of U.S. strikes causing power outages on Iran’s Kharg Island.

US President Donald Trump has again threatened to bomb Iran across the country, asserting that God supports America’s actions in the ongoing war. Speaking at a White House press briefing on Monday, Trump said he believes God endorses the joint US-Israel campaign against Iran, which has lasted five weeks and caused thousands of deaths, injuries, and the loss of 13 US soldiers. He added that while God dislikes conflict, He wants people to be safe.

Trump’s remarks mark a shift in his rhetoric, as he increasingly frames the conflict in religious terms after previously offering varied explanations for US involvement, including uncertainty over regime change as a goal. He also warned that Iran’s power and transport infrastructure could be destroyed, claiming that Iranians want their government overthrown and are urging the US to continue airstrikes.

When asked whether he sought divine guidance amid the escalating violence, Trump did not answer directly but suggested that God supports US actions despite disliking violence.

US Vice President JD Vance said extensive discussions and negotiations are taking place before the deadline set by President Donald Trump for reopening the Strait of Hormuz. According to Vance, if Iran fails to reach an acceptable agreement before the deadline, the United States will strike Iranian civilian infrastructure. He noted that the deadline, about 12 hours away, would determine the outcome, expressing hope for a positive resolution.

Vance made the remarks during a press conference in Budapest, Hungary, while President Trump posted on Truth Social that an entire civilization could be destroyed that night, though he claimed he did not want that outcome. Trump had previously threatened to bomb Iran back to the “Stone Age,” targeting power plants and bridges, dismissing concerns about potential war crimes.

The final deadline, set for 8 p.m. Eastern Time on Tuesday (6 a.m. Wednesday Bangladesh time), was approaching as reports indicated that attacks on Iranian rail and road bridges and other civilian infrastructure had already begun.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump has reignited international controversy by threatening potential military strikes on Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including power plants, bridges, and oil facilities. Asked at a Monday press conference whether such actions could constitute war crimes under international law, Trump said he was “not concerned,” arguing instead that allowing Iran to acquire nuclear weapons would be the real war crime.

His remarks followed earlier warnings that the United States might attack key Iranian infrastructure if Tehran failed to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within a set timeframe. Experts noted that such attacks could severely impact civilians, violating humanitarian law. Trump’s comments drew sharp criticism from human rights groups and U.S. lawmakers. Democratic Congresswoman Yasamin Ansari accused him of provoking an “illegal war” and called for impeachment proceedings, while Senate leaders Chuck Schumer and Chris Murphy condemned his statements as reckless.

Even Trump ally Marjorie Taylor Greene criticized the threats, and the UN Secretary-General’s office reminded that civilian infrastructure strikes are prohibited under international law. Reports indicated a 45-day ceasefire proposal with Iran was under review but not approved, leaving tensions high.