President Donald Trump warned on April 7 that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran fails to meet his 8 p.m. ET deadline to reach a deal. In a post on Truth Social, the president said he did not want such an outcome but suggested it was increasingly likely without a breakthrough, calling the moment “one of the most important” in world history.

Vice President JD Vance said he is “confident” Iran will respond to U.S. demands by Trump's deadline. He said the United States had already defeated the Iranian militarily and that Iran is now “trying to exact as much economic pain on the world as possible” by keeping the Strait of Hormuz closed.