President Trump escalated pressure on Iran Monday, warning he will destroy the country's electrical grid, oil infrastructure, and desalination plants if negotiations fail and the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to shipping.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed the U.S. is in "serious discussions" with "a new, and more reasonable" Iranian regime and said "great progress" has been made. But he added a stark ultimatum: if a deal isn't reached "shortly" and the critical waterway isn't immediately reopened for commerce, the U.S. will "completely obliterate" Iran's power generation facilities, oil wells, and Kharg Island.
Trump framed the threatened destruction as retaliation for Iranian actions over the past 47 years, including the killing of American service members.
The threat comes as negotiations remain stalled. As of Sunday, Iran had not formally responded to a 15-point U.S. proposal for ending the conflict, though Iranian state media reported the country rejected Trump's terms. White House envoy Steve Witkoff said Friday he expects a high-level meeting between the parties could happen this week, though Iran has not confirmed its participation.
A limited breakthrough emerged over the weekend when Pakistan brokered an arrangement allowing 20 commercial vessels to transit the Strait of Hormuz in coming days, suggesting at least some coordination between Washington and Tehran on maintaining flow through one of the world's most vital shipping channels.
Targeting civilian infrastructure would carry severe humanitarian consequences. Destroying power plants and desalination facilities would leave millions of Iranians without electricity and access to clean water. Such action could also worsen global energy markets already destabilized by regional conflict.
Trump set an earlier deadline for the strikes but extended it, creating space for diplomatic movement. The new ultimatum reflects his pattern of setting time-specific demands in negotiations with adversaries, though follow-through has varied.
The broader conflict has dragged on without clear signs of resolution. Indirect talks between Washington and Tehran through international mediators have produced little visible progress, and both sides remain far apart on core issues. Iran's new government, which Trump suggests is more willing to negotiate than its predecessor, has not yet demonstrated willingness to accept American conditions.
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