President Donald Trump has warned that if Iran does not reach a deal with the United States and open the Strait of Hormuz, the country would conclude military involvement in the region by “blowing up and completely obliterating” electric plants and oil wells in the country.
Trump said that the United States is engaged in discussions with what he described as a “new, and more reasonable” leadership in Iran, while warning that Washington could escalate military action if negotiations fail and shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
The comments were made in a post on Truth Social, where Trump outlined what he said were ongoing talks aimed at ending US military operations in Iran. The President said that discussions were progressing but cautioned that the situation could change if key conditions are not met.
“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran. 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.'”
Donald Trump
His remarks framed the potential escalation as retaliation for past actions attributed to Iran, stating, “This will be in retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.’”
Kharg Island is one of Iran’s primary oil export terminals and plays a central role in the country’s petroleum industry. Trump’s reference to the site highlights its strategic importance within Iran’s energy infrastructure.
The US President also mentioned the possibility of targeting desalination plants, suggesting that such facilities had so far not been struck during the ongoing conflict.
Last week, Trump threatened to “hit and obliterate” Iranian power plants if Tehran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours. He later postponed threatened strikes on Iranian power plants as a result of the talks on the conflict in the Middle East.
The comments come amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran following the outbreak of hostilities that have drawn regional and international attention.
The conflict has involved military exchanges, raising concerns about the security of major energy supply routes, particularly the Strait of Hormuz. The waterway lies between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula and is widely considered one of the most strategically important shipping lanes in the world.
A significant share of global oil exports passes through the narrow channel each day, making the disruption to navigation a matter of global economic concern.
Disruption to shipping in the Strait of Hormuz affects international oil prices and trade flows, given the route’s role as a major conduit for petroleum exports from the Gulf region.
Trump’s reference to the strait being “open for business” appears to signal that the United States views uninterrupted maritime traffic through the passage as a key condition for de-escalation. While Trump’s statement suggested that negotiations were underway with a new leadership structure in Iran, he did not provide further details about the individuals or authorities involved in the discussions. It also remains unclear how such talks are being conducted or what role international mediators may be playing.
Trump’s post did not specify a timeline for the negotiations he referenced, nor did it indicate whether any preliminary agreements had been reached. However, he expressed confidence that an arrangement would likely be concluded soon.
Trump Raises Prospects Of Taking Iran’s Oil
Trump’s post comes after Trump raised the prospect of the US taking Iran’s oil in an interview with a news agency.
Trump told the newspaper that his “preference would be to take the oil,” as he weighs whether to seize Iran’s key fuel export hub at Kharg Island.
Trump said in the interview that he wants to “take the oil in Iran” and could seize Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of the country’s oil exports. According to the agency, Trump compared the potential move to US operations in Venezuela, where the United States intends to control the oil industry “indefinitely” following its capture of authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro in January.
Oil prices, meanwhile, rose today, with Brent crude crossing $116 a barrel following his comments.
READ ALSO: MIIF Boss Outlines 2026 Returns Target, Benchmarked 2025 Achievement
