Today in Focus Trump latest Iran deadline looms – The Latest
14 snips
Apr 7, 2026 Julian Borger, senior international correspondent at The Guardian specialising in geopolitics and Middle East conflict, breaks down Trump's threats to strike Iran. He discusses the legal and moral implications of targeting civilian infrastructure. He outlines how Iran might retaliate, the regional energy and economic fallout, and the diplomatic efforts trying to defuse the crisis.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Trump's Erratic Ultimatum Raises Stability Questions
- Donald Trump issued an expletive-laden Truth Social ultimatum demanding Iran reopen the Strait of Hormuz and threatened large-scale strikes.
- Julian Borger describes the post as an extraordinary outburst that renewed concerns about Trump's mental stability and desperation.
Striking Civilian Infrastructure Would Likely Be A War Crime
- Targeting nationwide civilian infrastructure like power and bridges would almost certainly constitute a war crime under the Geneva Conventions and US military law.
- Julian Borger says such strikes aim at civilian life support systems and are clear-cut illegal acts.
Guardrails Removed From Pentagon Decision Making
- The Pentagon under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth has removed legal constraints and personnel who provided counsel against unlawful strikes.
- Borger notes the judge advocate generals and a civilian-harm unit set up under Biden have been purged, with Hegseth openly prioritising lethality.