Trump threatens to "obliterate" Iran's energy and water infrastructure
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Trump walks on the South Lawn upon returning to the White House on March 29. Photo: Ken Cedeno/AFP via Getty
President Trump threatened on Monday that if a deal with Iran "is not shortly reached" and if the Hormuz Strait isn't open "immediately," the U.S. will "completely obliterate" Iran's power, energy and water infrastructure.
Why it matters: Destroying those facilities would not only have devastating implications for Iranian civilians, it could also deepen the war-driven global energy crisis. The threat comes a week before Trump's latest deadline for Iran expires, and with the regime showing few signs of bending.
- While indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran have been taking place through international mediators, there are no signs at the moment of significant progress.
What he is saying: Trump wrote on Truth Social that the U.S. is "in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME" in Iran on ending the war and claimed "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 desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet 'touched,'" Trump wrote.
- He claimed that would be "in retribution" for Iran's killing of U.S. soldiers and others over the last 47 years.
State of play: As of Sunday night, Iran hasn't given the mediators an official response to the U.S. 15-point proposal for ending the war — though state media reported Iran had rejected Trump's terms.
- After Trump extended his original deadline to destroy Iran's power plants, the Pakistani government brokered an understanding with Tehran to allow 20 commercial ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz in the next few days.
- The Iranians also haven't given a final answer to the U.S. proposal to hold a high-level meeting in the next few days.
- White House envoy Steve Witkoff said on Friday the he believes such a meeting could take place this week.
