President Donald Trump delivered fresh warnings to Iran on Monday, threatening military action against the nation’s energy facilities unless the Strait of Hormuz waterway is reopened. The president also revealed that America is in negotiations with what he described as a “new and more reasonable regime.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump stated the United States is conducting “serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME” to halt military operations in Iran. He claimed “great progress has been made,” but warned that without a deal and the immediate reopening of the Strait of Hormuz for “Open for Business,” America could “blow up and completely obliterat[e]” Iran’s electric generating plants and oil wells, as well as Kharg Island.
Trump justified the potential strikes “in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.’”
These latest remarks build on comments Trump delivered Sunday, where he suggested America might soon reach an accord with Iran. During that speech, he revealed the U.S. is conducting “direct and indirect” talks and characterized the situation as “very good,” stating, “I think we’ll make a deal with them very soon. It may not happen, but I do see an agreement with Iran; it could happen soon.”
In a Sunday interview with the Financial Times, Trump also discussed the possibility of seizing Iranian oil resources. “To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” he told the publication.
Trump continued, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” and noted, “It would also mean we had to be there [in Kharg Island] for a while.” He added, “I don’t think they have any defense. We could take it very easily.”
According to the Wall Street Journal, U.S. officials have indicated Trump is weighing a specialized ground mission to remove 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, though no final determination has been reached.
