United States President Donald Trump warned Iran on Monday that if a deal is not reached soon and the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened, the United States may escalate its response. He said that could include strikes on Iran’s key infrastructure, including energy facilities, oil fields, Kharg Island and possibly desalination plants, targets he said he had so far deliberately avoided.
He claimed that the US was engaged in serious discussions with what he described as a “new and more sensible” leadership in Iran to end the ongoing military operations, adding that progress had been made and expressing confidence that an agreement was likely to be reached soon.
“The United States of America is in serious negotiations with a NEW AND MORE SANE REGIME to end our military operations in Iran. Much progress has been made, but if for some reason an agreement is not reached soon, which is likely to be, and if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately ‘open for business’, we will end our beautiful ‘stay’ in Iran, destroying all of their electric wells and completely destroying their electric wells. Kharg Island (and maybe all the desalination plants!) that we have deliberately not yet ‘touched,’” Trump said on Truth Social.
He went on to say, “This will be retribution for the many of our soldiers and others who were butchered and killed by Iran during the 47 years of the old regime’s ‘reign of terror’.”
conflict in the Middle East
Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, a critical waterway that normally transports about a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas supplies. On Monday, Iran acknowledged accepting US peace proposals through mediators following discussions the previous day between the foreign ministers of Pakistan, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Turkey.
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However, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei called the proposals “unrealistic, illogical and exaggerated”.
“Our position is clear. We are under military aggression. Therefore, all our efforts and forces are focused on our defense,” Reuters quoted him as saying.
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The United States and Israel continued their attacks on Monday, while Iran targeted major water and energy facilities in Kuwait as part of its ongoing operations against Gulf Arab states. According to AP, an oil refinery in Israel was also targeted.
Israel launched an invasion of southern Lebanon to drive out Hezbollah, the Iran-backed group responsible for firing rockets and drones across the border. Israeli officials have indicated that the campaign could lead to a long-term occupation. The invasion, combined with extensive airstrikes, forced over a million Lebanese civilians from their homes.
Thousands of troops from the U.S. Army’s elite 82nd Airborne Division have begun arriving in the Middle East, according to two U.S. officials, in a boost that could allow Trump to consider deploying forces on Iranian soil.
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On Monday, Iran confirmed the death of Revolutionary Guards Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri, marking the latest high-ranking leader to be killed since the death of Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was succeeded by his son Mojtaba Khamenei.
Tehran has remained defiant in the month-long conflict, which began with US-Israeli attacks on Iran on February 28 and has since spread across the region, resulting in thousands of deaths, power disruptions and impacts on the global economy. Most of the reported casualties occurred in Iran and Lebanon, with many being civilians.
(With input from agencies)
