Ammon News - President Trump faces a momentous decision on a tight timeline: carry out his threat to obliterate Iran's infrastructure beginning at 8pm ET, or push his own deadline again to give negotiations a chance.

Trump has threatened to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran by midnight, among other options that would have devastating consequences for ordinary Iranians and spark dangerous retaliation across the region.

Mediators from Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey are working to avert that outcome by brokering a deal — or at least putting time back on the clock.

"If the president sees a deal is coming together, he'll probably hold off. But only he and he alone makes that decision," a senior administration official told Axios. A defense official said they were "skeptical" there would be any extension this time around.

This account is based on interviews with six officials and sources with direct knowledge of the ongoing diplomacy or Trump's thinking.

Trump's advisers told the mediators the president needs to see positive indications from the Iranians to consider an extension.

Trump laid out a dire vision of Iran's near future during his press conference on Monday, while adding that a deal was still possible.

"The entire country could be taken out in one night, and it might be tomorrow night," Trump said.

"We have a plan where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o'clock tomorrow night. Where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition by 12 o'clock, and it will happen over a period of four hours if we wanted to," Trump said. "We don't want that to happen."

On the other hand, Trump said negotiations were "going fine" and stressed the U.S. has "an active, willing participant on the other side" that is "negotiating in good faith."

Two sources said a plan for a massive U.S.-Israeli bombing campaign against Iran's energy facilities is ready to go, if Trump gives the order.

"Trump would take a deal if he got one, but it's unclear if the Iranians are ready. It will be extremely tense until Tuesday at 8pm," a U.S. source close to Trump said.