Mr. Trump continues to threaten to ‘completely wipe out’ Iran’s power plants

In a post on social media on March 30, President Donald Trump warned of the possibility of the US launching “severe attacks” on Iran’s energy infrastructure and water security if Tehran does not soon accept the agreement with Washington and immediately reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

“We will end our ‘friendly visit’ to Iran by blowing up and destroying all of their power plants, oil wells and possibly desalination facilities along with Kharg Island. We have previously deliberately left these targets untouched,” he wrote.

President Trump also affirmed that the US is in serious dialogue with “a new, more thoughtful government in Iran” to end the fighting.

Tehran previously rejected Mr. Trump’s statement that the two sides were negotiating and that Iran had accepted most of the content in the 15-point plan that the US sent through Pakistan.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei affirmed that “there have been no negotiations with the US” in the past month. He emphasized that Iran is focusing all its resources to defend against US military activities, and declared that Tehran has not forgotten its previous failed negotiation efforts with Washington.

Responding to concerns that attacking civilian facilities such as desalination plants could violate international law, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt affirmed that the US military will always act “within the framework of the law”. She explained that President Trump is pressuring Iran to accept negotiations, and warned that America’s military capabilities are “far beyond imagination”.

White House officials said the move to dispatch thousands of ground troops to the Middle East is to “maximize diversification” of the list of options for President Trump, but emphasized that Washington still pursues a diplomatic solution.

When asked whether Mr. Trump wants to end or escalate the conflict, Ms. Leavitt said the US President is focusing on the goals of the campaign, and affirmed that diplomacy is still the number one priority. She said if there is a chance to reach an agreement, Mr. Trump is willing to listen, but that does not change the military goals set forth.

On March 21, Mr. Trump issued an ultimatum requiring Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz within 48 hours, or else the entire power system across the country would be knocked out. However, just a few hours before the ultimatum expired, the US President extended it for another 5 days, saying that the two sides were negotiating to end the conflict.

Iranian leaders immediately denied information that they were negotiating with the US. However, when the 5-day deadline passed, President Trump continued to extend it for another 10 days, saying that Iran “desperately wants to reach a deal”. Tehran also rejected his statement.