US President Trump threatens to destroy Iran’s Kharg Island, oil wells, and power plants if a deal to end the war is not reached shortly

WASHINGTON: US President Donald Trump has threatened to destroy Iran’s key oil export hub of Kharg Island, along with its oil wells and power plants, if a deal to end the ongoing war is not reached “shortly”.

The threat was issued on his Truth Social network, marking a sharp turn from his more conciliatory tone a day earlier.

“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!),” Trump wrote.

He added that these targets had been “purposefully not yet ‘touched’”.

On Sunday, Trump had told reporters on Air Force One that he foresaw a potential deal “soon”.

He also claimed the US had achieved “regime change” in Iran through the war launched a month ago with Israel, citing the deaths of Iranian leaders.

“We’re dealing with different people than anybody’s dealt with before. It’s a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change,” he said.

Trump described the new leadership in Tehran as “much more reasonable” and stated the US was in “serious discussions” with them.

When asked about the possibility of an agreement this week, he had responded, “I do see a deal in Iran. Could be soon.”

 The Sun Malaysia