The United States of America on Tuesday launched 50 airstrikes against Kharg Island, a major hub critical to Iranian oil export, as President Donald Trump intensified his warning that “a whole civilisation will die tonight,” should Tehran fail to meet its 8 p.m. Eastern Time deadline to open the Strait of Hormuz.

The White House announced that U.S. forces struck Kharg Island early Tuesday morning ahead of Mr Trump’s evening ultimatum.

“A whole civilisation will die tonight, never to be brought back again,” the U.S. leader threatened in a social media post, unless “maybe something revolutionarily wonderful can happen.”

“We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the World,” Mr Trump added.

Mr Trump on Easter Sunday vowed to obliterate Iranian power plants and bridges if the war-torn nation fails to reopen the Strait, a leverage it used in rattling global oil prices.

But Iranian officials resisted efforts to concede or negotiate a deal arguing the terms drawn by mediators such as Pakistan and Turkey were not favourable enough. They are also not sure concessions will halt future bombardments by the U.S. or Israeli forces.

Meanwhile, U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance who spoke at a conference in Budapest, Hungary, on Tuesday to support Prime Minister Viktor Orban, said he hopes Iran will “make the right” choice before the deadline.

“We feel confident that we can get a response whether it’s positive or negative, we’re going to get a response from the Iranians by 8 o’clock tonight. I hope they make the right response,” Mr Vance said.