Washington: U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Monday to "completely obliterate" Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil hub, its power plants, and oil wells if a peace deal with the United States is not "shortly" reached. Trump made the remarks in a social media post amid growing fears of a prolonged war between the U.S., Israel, and Iran, and the conflict's impact on oil prices and inflation, key issues that could affect voter sentiment ahead of the U.S. midterm elections in November.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Trump announced on Truth Social that the United States is engaged in serious discussions with what he described as "A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME" to end military operations in Iran, indicating that substantial progress has been made in the negotiations. However, he cautioned that if a deal is not reached soon and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately opened for business, the U.S. would conclude its presence in Iran by targeting its electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island, which have been deliberately spared thus far. Trump also mentioned the potential inclusion of desalinization plants in the list of targets.
The U.S. President justified these potential strikes as retribution for what he claims to be the deaths of many U.S. soldiers and others at the hands of Iran during the "old regime's 47-year reign of terror." On Thursday, Trump extended a pause on U.S. military strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure by ten days, setting a new deadline of 8 p.m. on April 6 (Washington time) to allow more time for negotiations.
Trump's latest threat comes amid reports of the U.S. deploying thousands of additional troops to the Middle East, providing him with more wartime options as his administration increases pressure on Tehran to accept a 15-point proposal to end the conflict. In an interview with ABC released Monday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized Trump's preference for diplomacy, despite the increased military presence in the region.
Rubio stated, "We always prefer to settle things through negotiation and diplomacy," according to a transcript from the State Department. However, he acknowledged the possibility of diplomatic efforts failing due to the presence of individuals within Iran's 47-year-old regime who may not favor diplomacy or peace. Rubio identified the "clerical regime" in the Islamic Republic as the core issue.
He expressed optimism about new leadership in Iran with a more reasonable vision for the future, which he believed would benefit everyone. However, he also warned of the likelihood that such a change might not occur. Rubio criticized the theocratic regime's leaders as "religious zealots" who must never be allowed to acquire a nuclear weapon, citing their "apocalyptic vision of the future."