President Donald Trump is considering strikes on key civilian and military targets in Iran as his 8 PM ET deadline approaches, NBC News reported on Tuesday, citing two US officials.
This development could open the 79-year-old to war crime prosecution and comes as several Democrats spoke about removing him using the 25th Amendment.
Earlier in the day, Trump warned that a 'whole civilization will die tonight' and called for a 'complete and total regime change.'
The US has already struck bridges across Iran and on Kharg Island, the country's key oil export hub, NBC News added.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard responded to Trump's threats, saying it would 'deprive the US and its allies of the region's oil and gas for years' if Washington follows through with further action.
Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to Pakistan said that Islamabad's 'positive and productive' efforts for a ceasefire between the US and Iran are reaching a 'critical, sensitive stage.'
Trump's potential targets in Iran include critical infrastructure considered of 'dual use', which the US may avoid the technical definition of war crime.
As fears of a nuclear bomb surfaced after Vice President JD Vance's comments, the White House clarified: 'Literally nothing @VP said here 'implies' this, you absolute buffoons.'
Calls to invoke the 25th Amendment, and even pursue impeachment, have intensified on Capitol Hill after Trump escalated rhetoric around Iran.
