Iran cuts direct talks with US after Trump warns ‘a whole civilization will die tonight’

WASHINGTON, DC: Iran has reportedly pulled back from direct engagement with President Donald Trump after his latest and most explosive warning yet - a message that appears to have jolted already fragile diplomacy just hours before a critical deadline.

According to The Wall Street Journal, Tehran, on April 7, halted direct communication with Washington following Trump’s Truth Social post in which he warned that Iran’s “whole civilization” could be wiped out if a deal is not reached by Tuesday night.

The move signals a sharp reaction to rhetoric that many officials viewed as crossing a line, even in an already volatile standoff.

Conflicting signals from Washington 

Despite the dramatic step, negotiations have not completely collapsed.

As reported by journalist Alexander Ward, discussions are continuing through intermediaries.

“Talks with cease-fire mediators continue,” Middle Eastern officials indicated, suggesting that while the direct US - Iran channel has been cut, indirect diplomacy remains active.

The same officials noted that the breakdown in direct contact has 'temporarily complicated' efforts to reach an agreement before Trump’s 8 pm deadline, but crucially, it has not ended them.

Ward noted, “It is unclear if direct talks will resume before the deadline.”

That leaves the situation in a tense middle ground: communication strained, but not entirely severed.

Even as tensions spiked publicly, messaging from US officials painted a more complicated picture behind the scenes.

A senior US official said earlier in the day, “We are absolutely in touch with Iran. Absolutely. The talks have been positive. If we get lucky, we will have something by the end of the day.”

Trump threatens to 'end whole civilization'

At the center of the rupture is Trump’s stark and sweeping message, posted earlier in the day, which quickly drew global attention.

“A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” he wrote, before adding, “I don’t want that to happen, but it probably will.”

He went on to suggest that such destruction could pave the way for sweeping political change inside Iran, stating that with “Complete and Total Regime Change,” “something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.”

The post, blending apocalyptic warning with speculation about regime change, appears to have triggered immediate backlash and prompted Tehran’s decision to step away from direct talks, at least for now.

The breakdown in direct communication introduces fresh complications at a moment when timing is critical.

With Trump’s deadline fast approaching, the absence of direct dialogue could slow progress, especially as both sides try to interpret each other’s next move through intermediaries.

At the same time, it remains unclear whether the pause is temporary or the beginning of a deeper freeze.