Satellite view of Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf off the coast of Iran.
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US President Donald Trump said on Monday that the US would “completely” destroy Iran’s power generation plants, oil wells and Kharg Island if the strategically important Strait of Hormuz is not “immediately” reopened and a peace deal is not reached “soon.”
“The United States is in serious discussions with a new and more fair arrangement to end our military operations in Iran,” Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
“Great progress has been made, but if for any reason no agreement is reached soon, which there probably will be, and if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately “open for business”, we will conclude our lovely “staycation” in Iran by blowing up and completely destroying all of our electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharag Island (and possibly all desalination plants!) that we have not knowingly “touched” yet.
His comments come as the Iran war enters its fifth week and the Trump administration is considering sending ground forces to seize Kharg Island, a key fuel hub that serves as the centerpiece for Iran’s oil industry.
It is estimated that about 90% of the country’s crude oil passes through it before passing through the Strait of Hormuz on tankers. It is also said that the island has a loading capacity of approximately 7 million barrels per day.
Iran has not yet commented on Trump’s latest comment. Earlier in the day, a spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry reportedly said that Iran considers the proposals presented in the US 15-point plan as “excessive and unfair”. Iran’s leaders have ruled out direct talks with America
Shipping traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has virtually halted since the US and Israel launched strikes against Iran on February 28. Iran has retaliated by targeting ships trying to pass through the sea corridor, with several incidents reported in recent weeks.
Trump said last week he would pause attacks on Iran’s energy plants for 10 days, extending the deadline to April 6.
Oil prices rose on Monday, with international benchmark Brent crude on track to post its sharpest monthly rise on record.