WASHINGTON, D.C. — President Donald Trump on March 30 imposed an April 6 deadline for Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz and accept a U.S. peace deal to end the war or face American air strikes targeting its energy infrastructure.

The ultimatum came as Iran launched missiles and drones at targets in Israel on March 30. An industrial building and a fuel tanker at the oil refinery in Haifa were hit by debris from an intercepted Iranian missile, and Iran struck a water and electrical plant in Kuwait the same day.

Iran said it received, reviewed, and rejected a 15-point U.S. peace plan delivered through Pakistani emissaries. On March 30, Iran described the U.S. peace plan as unrealistic, illogical, and excessive.

"What has been discussed so far have been messages about America's willingness and request for negotiations, which we received from some intermediaries, including Pakistan," said Ismail Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman. Leaders of Iran deny that direct negotiations with the United States are taking place.

On March 29, Trump said that talks with Iran were being held directly and indirectly with reasonable leaders and that Tehran was partially opening the Strait of Hormuz. "There has been total regime change because the regimes of the past are gone and we're dealing with a whole new set of people," said Trump. "And thus far, they've been much more reasonable." "The other people are all dead," said Trump. "If he's alive, he's likely in bad shape," said Trump.

The war with Iran began on February 28 when U.S. and Israeli air strikes killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian leaders. Since then, Iran has launched air strikes on cargo ships in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched missiles toward Israel, including a third salvo early on March 30.

On March 30, the IRGC's Sepah News website reported that Admiral Alireza Tangsiri died of severe injuries from an Israeli air strike the previous week. Israel reported that Tangsiri was killed in a strike in Bandar Abbas, a port city on the Strait of Hormuz. The IRGC did not provide further details about the circumstances of Tangsiri's death or information about his successor.

In June 2019, the U.S. Treasury Department designated Alireza Tangsiri as a specially designated global terrorist, according to public records. Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps navy operates alongside the regular naval forces and specializes in guerrilla warfare using fast-attack boats in the Persian Gulf and the Strait of Hormuz.

In March, benchmark crude oil prices rose by more than 55 percent. In early afternoon European trading on March 30, Brent crude rose 2 percent to $114.85 per barrel.