crushing

April 6 (UPI) — Iran warned Monday of “much more devastating retaliation” if U.S. President Donald Trump follows through on his “power plants and bridges day” attacks unless Tehran complies with his Tuesday deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In a statement carried by state-run broadcaster IRIB, Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, the Iranian military’s central command, said any repeat of recent strikes on civilian infrastructure would trigger the retaliatory response.

“In the event of a repetition of the attack on civilian targets, the next stages of our offensive and retaliatory operations will be much more devastating and widespread, and their losses and damages in insisting on this approach will be multiplied,” the statement reads.

The threat came after Trump issued an ultimatum full of expletives on Sunday on his Truth Social platform, threatening to obliterate Iran’s power stations and bridges.

“Tuesday, 8:00 P.M. Eastern Time!” he posted shortly afterward, seemingly adding 24 hours to a deadline imposed on March 26 of Monday night for when “all Hell will reign down” if Tehran did not allow safe passage of shipping through the strategically vital sea lane.

Iranian deputy foreign minister Kazem Gharibabadi accused Trump of preparing to carry out war crimes, citing the prohibition in international law on breaches of territorial integrity and destruction of power plants and bridges.

“The American president, as the highest official of his country, has publicly threatened to commit war crimes. The threat to attack power plants and bridges (civilian infrastructure) is a war crime under Article 8(2)(b) of the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court,” Gharibabadi wrote on X.

There was a slender possibility of a deal before the deadline with Iran and mediators in the region working to put together a 45-day cease-fire, four U.S., Israeli and regional sources told Axios on Monday, while the United States was reported to be “in deep negotiations” with Iran.

“There is a good chance, but if they don’t make a deal, I am blowing up everything over there,” Trump said.

The threat of attacks on ships by Iranian forces has effectively shut the strait since the United States and Israel launched their airborne military offensive on Feb. 28 but Iran has said it could reopen provided reparations are paid for the damage the country has sustained and it receives guarantees it would not be attacked in the future.

It has been suggested that it will begin requiring vessels to pay a toll charge to transit, with the Iranian president’s office saying the Strait of Hormuz would reopen when “a portion of transit tolls is used to compensate for all the damage caused.”

Around 16,000 fans packed into the Manchester arena bought into the Itauma buzz, greeting him with a warm roar as he was walked to the ring by British rapper Meekz.

Itauma – the prodigy who was sparring seasoned professionals while still at school – was in wonderful form from the first bell, using his speed and variation to send Franklin backtracking.

In truth, the knockout felt inevitable even when 32-year-old Franklin managed to recover from a third-round right hand that sent him crashing to the floor.

Working behind a jab and picking his shots wisely, Itauma avoided anything reckless. “It’s a breakdown job,” trainer Ben Davison aptly told him between rounds.

This was another night that thrilled and told us a little more about the rising heavyweight.

Itauma’s devastating power is undeniable, once again on display as he dispatched a seasoned opponent inside the first half of the fight.

But the bigger questions remain.

His chin has yet to be properly tested. Franklin landed a right in the fourth, and Itauma just smiled, but he will face bigger punches in the future.

And while the knockouts keep coming, he is still unproven beyond six rounds, with his engine and endurance untested at the highest level.

Promoter Warren expects Itauma to fight for a world title this year.

Within boxing circles, that talk may be slightly premature but Itauma is keeping pace with two-time world champion Anthony Joshua.

At the same stage of his career, Joshua beat Gary Cornish to register a 14th stoppage and was selling out the O2 Arena. Itauma is on a similar trajectory, almost filling the Co-op Live Arena – and arguably facing higher-level opponents along the way.

The key step-up for Joshua came in his 15th fight: a win over Dillian Whyte for the British title, which developed his resolve and enhanced his profile.

By his 17th, he was world champion after defeating Charles Martin.