Washington – Frustration appears to be mounting in Washington as Donald Trump sharpens his rhetoric toward Iran, coupling claims of progress in talks with increasingly stark threats of force.
The US president warned that unless a peace deal is reached soon, the United States could target Iran’s critical infrastructure, including electricity plants, oil wells, and the strategic Kharg Island.
The latest warning comes just a week before Trump’s self-imposed deadline for a deal expires, with little indication that Tehran is prepared to yield.
Posting on social media, Trump said his administration is engaged in “serious discussions” with Iran to end military operations. However, he paired that message with a sweeping threat to destroy key energy assets if an agreement is not reached “shortly”.
“Great progress has been made,” Trump wrote, before adding that failure to secure a deal — and to ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open — could result in the US “blowing up and completely obliterating” Iran’s energy infrastructure.
‘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 desalinisation plants),’ Trump posted.
Meanwhile, tensions across the region continue to rise. Iran’s military on Monday accused Israel of carrying out an attack on a desalination plant in Kuwait.
A spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry said Iran was not seeking nuclear weapons, but the issue of whether to remain part of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) was under review in Parliament.
Trump’s social media post and earlier comments in an interview with the Financial Times that suggested American troops could seize the country’s Kharg Island export hub highlight how he has repeatedly said that talks with Iran are ongoing – and even going well – though Tehran denies negotiating directly. But at the same time, he has continually ramped up his threats, as thousands more Marines and other US troops pour into the Middle East.
“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump told the Financial Times.
“It would also mean we had to be there (on Kharg Island) for a while.” Asked about Iranian defences there, he said, “I don’t think they have any defence. We could take it very easily.”
The US already launched airstrikes once; it said they targeted military positions on the island.
