U.S. President Donald Trump posted "Tuesday, 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time!" on social media on Sunday, a message that appeared to signal a possible extension of the deadline for Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
On March 21, Trump threatened to hit and obliterate Iranian power plants if the country fails to fully open the strait within 48 hours. Two days later, he postponed strikes on power plants for five days, claiming to have held productive conversations with Iran.
On March 26, Trump again pushed the deadline back, saying that he will pause planned strikes on Iranian energy facilities for 10 days, to April 6, the upcoming Monday at 20:00 Eastern Time. On Saturday, Trump reaffirmed that Iran has 48 hours to strike a deal on opening up the strait or face "Hell."
However, in the post on Sunday, Trump appeared to hint at extending the deadline for Iran to reopen the strait for another time.
In a post earlier Sunday, the U.S. president threatened that Tuesday would be "Power Plant Day, and Bridge Day, all wrapped up in one" for Iran, and again urged Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz.
Despite the threats, Trump said on Sunday that he believes a deal can be reached before the deadline, adding that Iran is currently negotiating. If Iran refuses, he said he is considering bombing everything and seizing Iran's oil.
Ali Abdollahi, chief commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, responded Saturday that the Iranian armed forces would not hesitate for a moment to defend the country's rights and protect national assets and will put the aggressors in their place.
Trump also claimed that earlier this year, the U.S. sent weapons to Iranian protesters through the Kurds, though he believes the Kurds took them.
He also said he was very satisfied with a recent operation to rescue the pilot of a U.S. fighter jet that was shot down in Iranian airspace. He said Israel had assisted with the rescue, describing the bilateral relationship as big brother and little brother.
Trump hints at extending deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Trump hints at extending deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Trump hints at extending deadline for Iran to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Families of victims killed in an attack in central Nigeria's Jos a week ago are calling on the government to do more to protect lives and property.
Gunmen attacked the Ungwan Rukuba community, opening fire and killing about 30 people on March 29.
Ferdinand Habila Gapsiso lost his 24-year-old son Makburi in the attack. As friends and family condoled them in a memorial service, the father recounted the devastation of losing a child.
"When we turned to the other side, where they laid the corpses down on the floor, the first person that we saw was [Makburi]. This child was my hope. We have struggled for him to get to that stage, and suddenly they cut his life short. It was so painful, so painful," Gapsiso said.
The government has described the incident as a terror attack. The area is home to several staff and students from the local university, and many of them have since left the city.
The government has also imposed a curfew in Jos North local government area, where the Ungwar Rukuba community is located, as part of the measures to restore law and order in the city.
Jos, and other parts of Plateau State have a history of violent attacks. Community leaders say there is now growing distrust among residents. They want the government to arrest the perpetrators, and ensure they are exposed and punished to serve as a deterrence.
"We have laws in this country. We have the anti-terrorism act that has spelled out what is to be done to anybody who has been found to be culpable. We should be having the political will to make sure that we go all out and let whoever is the perpetrator, found to be guilty to face the wrath of the law. Once we do that, it will send a lot of signals down the spines of people," said Esthon Gapsiso, a community leader.
President Bola Tinubu visited Jos to condole with families on Wednesday. He says the government will deploy 5,000 intelligence-enabled cameras to support peace operations in the state.
"Governor, you and I were elected on a promise of peace and prosperity, not to comfort and create widows and widowers, to bring prosperity as a promise, to bring inclusiveness as a government, to share in the hope and aspirations of everyone, to lead our youths," Tinubu said during the visit.
The president has also scheduled meetings with opinion leaders in the state, to discuss more ways to address the security challenges.
Defense authorities say they have approved deployment of 850 additional troops to Jos, and other parts of Plateau. They say an investigation is also underway to identify those behind the killings.
Residents demand more effective protection measures after deadly attack on community in Jos
