DC Wrap: Trump renews threats ahead of Iran deadline; Artemis II sets record – Spectrum News

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President Donald Trump pledged to carry out “complete demolition” of Iran within hours if it does not meet his 8 p.m. deadline Tuesday to reach a deal, declaring that the trajectory of the more than five-week-old war will depend on what the country does in the next day.
“Every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night,” Trump said Monday regarding what would happen if the deadline passes. “Where every power plant in Iran will be out of business — burning, exploding and never to be used again.” 
The declaration from the president came at a news conference at the White House, where Trump opened his remarks noting that the “entire country” of Iran could be “taken out in one night.” “And that night might be tomorrow night,” he added. 
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—Spectrum News’ Maddie Gannon
The United States relied on dozens of aircraft, hundreds of personnel, secret CIA technology and a dose of subterfuge to rescue a two-man F-15E fighter jet crew downed deep inside Iran, a risky mission that President Donald Trump and his top defense aides detailed Monday.
U.S. forces rescued the pilot within hours of the jet going down late Thursday, surging helicopters, midair refuelers and fighter aircraft deep into Iran after confirming his location, Trump said in a valedictory news conference at the White House, describing the military operation in an unusual level of detail.
The second aviator aboard the aircraft — the weapons systems officer — was rescued nearly two days later.
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—The Associated Press
Apollo astronauts set the world record for distance from the Earth more than 50 years ago, but the Artemis II crew broke the record for distance on Monday afternoon as they are doing a flyby mission of the moon.
And the crew became emotional over the suggestion of naming a crater in honor of Reid Wiseman’s late wife.
Artemis II’s Cmdr. Reid Wiseman, pilot Victor Glover, mission specialist Christina Koch and Canadian Space Agency mission specialist Jeremy Hansen will be the closest humans have been to the moon since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. As they are snapping close-up photos of the moon from inside the Orion capsule, called Integrity, they also broke the record of how far humans have been from Mother Earth.
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—Spectrum News’ Anthony Leone
Drivers, buckle up. Gas prices are expected to rise by double digits again this week as uncertainty over the Iran war continues, an industry analyst said.
“Gasoline prices are poised for another jolt this week, with many inland states — including the Plains, Great Lakes, and parts of the Rockies — likely to see sharp increases as last week’s surge in wholesale costs has yet to be fully passed through to consumers,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, said in a statement Monday.
Over the last week, gas prices increased by nearly 12 cents per gallon, De Haan said in his Fuel Insights newsletter Monday, noting that the national average is up 65.1 cents per gallon compared with a month ago and 85 cents compared with a year ago. De Haan expects gas to reach $4.20 to $4.35 per gallon in the coming days.
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—Spectrum News’ Susan Carpenter
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