ISLAMABAD: Senior US officials have revealed that President Donald Trump is the most hawkish voice in his own administration on Iran.
A source told Axios the president is the “most hawkish person in the top echelons” of his government.
Trump has warned that “a whole civilisation will die tonight” if Iran fails to strike a deal and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
The self-imposed deadline of 8pm ET Tuesday carries the threat of immediate strikes on Iranian power plants and bridges.
The Axios report is based on interviews with six officials and sources with direct knowledge of the diplomacy.
Only President Trump himself will decide whether to hold off or launch the assault.
One official described Trump as “the most bloodthirsty, like a mad dog” while downplaying any push from other cabinet members.
Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio sound like doves compared to the president according to insiders.
The disclosures paint Trump as driving the most aggressive posture toward Tehran single-handedly.
The Strait of Hormuz carries 20 million barrels of oil per day or 20 percent of global petroleum liquids consumption.
This chokepoint accounts for roughly one quarter of all seaborne oil trade worldwide.
Disruption risks pushing Brent crude prices to 91 dollars per barrel in late 2026 under full export halt scenarios.
Iran produces 3.176 million barrels of crude daily with exports averaging 2.17 million barrels per day as recently as February 2026.
Tehran has already earned hundreds of millions in extra revenue from elevated oil prices during the crisis.
Trump has dubbed potential strikes “Infrastructure Day” or “Power Plant Day and Bridge Day all wrapped up in one”.
Such attacks would obliterate critical energy assets with effects never to be reversed.
Iran’s official defence budget stands at 15.4 billion dollars against the United States’ 895 billion dollars allocation.
Despite the vast asymmetry Tehran maintains one of the Middle East’s largest ballistic and cruise missile arsenals.
Negotiators remain pessimistic that Iran will yield to demands before the looming deadline expires.
The standoff stems from Iran’s refusal to guarantee safe passage through the vital waterway amid regional tensions.
Global energy markets now brace for volatility that could ripple into higher fuel costs everywhere.
For oil-importing economies the threat of closure adds immediate pressure on inflation and supply chains.
International coverage from Axios and major outlets underscores the high-risk gamble at play.
Administration sources insist external voices have not swayed the president’s bloodthirsty resolve.
Trump alone holds the power to decide if a civilisation collapses tonight or a deal emerges.
The crisis echoes earlier maximum-pressure campaigns but now carries an explicit doomsday timeline.
Pessimism among diplomats suggests the window for peaceful resolution narrows by the hour.