United States President Donald Trump has issued a stark warning to Iran, stating he is prepared to blow up the country’s energy infrastructure if a comprehensive ceasefire and maritime agreement are not reached immediately.
Trump who took to his social media account on Monday emphasized that his patience with the “hostile regime” has reached its limit following recent skirmishes in the Strait of Hormuz.
Trump’s threat to blow up Iran comes as global energy markets reel from the ongoing conflict. Global oil prices have been shooting up since the Middle East crisis began on February 28.
Brent crude oil stood at $115 per barrel as of press time. Monday’s price represents a jump from the closing price of Brent crude on Friday, but is still below a peak on 18 March of $119.50.
On Monday, Trump revealed that his administration was negotiating with “A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME” in Iran, reiterating his optimism that an agreement would soon be reached to end the war launched by the U.S. and Israel a month ago.
However, Trump did not give any more information about who in Tehran the U.S. was negotiating with.
Recall also that Trump previously gave Iran an ultimatum, to open the Strait of Hormuz or face attacks on its power plants, but he then extended his deadline for the regime to do so twice, with it currently set at April 6.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.
“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched’.
“This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’47-yearar ‘Reign of Terror’.”
Trump’s remarks come after Iranian officials have repeatedly rejected claims that any direct talks are underway, and dismissed a proposal from the White House laying out 15 points for a ceasefire deal as “excessive and unreasonable,” raising doubts that any common ground might be quickly found.
“Iran has responded negatively to an American proposal aimed at ending the ongoing imposed war,” the official said, according to the English-language broadcaster Press TV.
“The end of the war will occur when Iran decides it should end, not when Trump envisions its conclusion.”
Recall also that since the war began, multiple tiers of the Iranian government, from the Supreme Council down to regional IRGC commanders, including former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, have been neutralized.
