President Donald Trump has warned that the United States could strike Iran’s critical energy infrastructure if negotiations to end the ongoing conflict collapse, intensifying already fragile tensions in the Middle East.
In a social media post Monday, Trump said significant progress had been made in talks but cautioned that failure to reach an agreement, particularly over the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, would trigger sweeping military action.
“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached… we will… completely obliterate all of their electric generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island,” Trump wrote.
The statement marks one of the most explicit threats yet targeting Iran’s civilian-linked energy facilities, including power plants and desalination infrastructure.
The Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping route for global oil supplies, remains central to the dispute. Its effective closure in recent weeks has disrupted energy markets and driven up oil prices worldwide.
Iran has signaled it wants to retain control over the strategic waterway, according to diplomatic exchanges. Trump, however, has made reopening the passage a key condition for any agreement.
Rising stakes and fragile diplomacy
The latest developments come amid a broader US and Israeli military campaign that has lasted several weeks. Regional instability has deepened, with reports of missile strikes and infrastructure damage, including a fire at the Bazan oil refinery in Haifa.
Despite the hardline rhetoric, Trump has repeatedly described negotiations as productive. Speaking to reporters a day earlier, he said Iran had agreed to most of a proposed 15-point ceasefire framework delivered through intermediaries.
Tehran, however, has submitted its own conditions, underscoring the complexity of the talks, including maintaining control over the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional actors including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey have also engaged in diplomatic efforts, though no clear breakthrough has been announced.
Alongside diplomatic outreach, the US has increased its military presence in the region. Thousands of troops, including elements of the 82nd Airborne Division and an amphibious assault group, have been deployed in recent days.
Trump has also raised the possibility of targeting Iran’s main oil export hub, Kharg Island, a move analysts say would risk broader escalation and potentially require sustained military involvement.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump acknowledged that such an operation could require a longer-term presence on the ground.
Analysts warn that strikes on energy infrastructure could have far-reaching consequences, not only for Iran but also for global markets already strained by supply disruptions.
