Experts debate Iran’s response as Trump’s Hormuz ultimatum looms

An Al Jazeera discussion panel has examined the 48-hour deadline set by US President Donald Trump for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or make a peace deal, failing which he has threatened to "very heavily bomb" Iran's critical infrastructure including power plants. Foad Izadi, professor at the University of Tehran, argued that Iran is interested in a "real deal" but not "surrender" or "capitulation," noting that Iran had made serious concessions before the war which were ignored by US negotiators he described as lacking expertise. Rashid Al-Mohanadi, vice president of the Center for International Policy Research and security analyst, countered that Trump is offering an "off-ramp" rather than surrender, though he acknowledged that the Strait of Hormuz is Iran's "only leverage." Al-Mohanadi also argued that Iran lacks the capacity to escalate further, pointing to the US rescue of downed pilots from Iranian territory as evidence of Iranian weakness, while warning that Iran is already hitting civilian infrastructure across the Gulf. Izadi warned that if the US strikes Iran's power plants, "the whole region will go dark," promising retaliation. The panel heard that Gulf states, including Qatar which has been hit by over 200 ballistic missiles, have shown "strategic restraint" and continue to welcome a diplomatic solution despite being attacked. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://X.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.news/AJEMobile #Trump #Iran #IranDeniesCeasefireClaim #IranWar #USIsraelWarOnIran #MiddleEastCrisis #Israel #StraitOfHormuz #TrumpIranCeasefire #HormuzCrisis #MiddleEastCrisis #Israel #IranNuclearProgram #OperationEpicFury #OperationTruePromise4 #TrumpIranUltimatum