WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said Tuesday that the United States is ready to step up military operations against Iran unless Tehran returns to negotiations, warning that key infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, could become future targets.
Trump said in an interview with chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst that U.S. military operations would continue until he believes Iran has been sufficiently weakened. We’re going to hit them hard tomorrow night. "We're going to hit them very hard the following night," Trump said.
The comments came after several days of reported U.S. military strikes near the Strait of Hormuz, a key waterway for shipping. Trump said the campaign would continue and suggested that if Iran did not negotiate, they would target additional infrastructure. "Next week comes the power plants. “Next week it’s the bridges. We're going to blow up all their power stations. He said, “We’re going to blow all their bridges unless they come to the table and negotiate.”
Trump also said he had abandoned a plan to levy a 20% toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, saying Middle Eastern nations had agreed to significant investment and trade with the United States instead. He did not specify which countries and gave no further details.
The president also said the United States had reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports in the Strait of Hormuz as tensions in the region flared again.
U.S. officials had recently held discussions with Iranian representatives, Trump said, but accused Tehran of repeatedly breaking agreements. But every time they make a deal, they break it," Trump said.
He warned that if negotiations fail, the consequences for Iran will be harsher. He also said US forces are taking measures to avoid civilian casualties.
Trump also claimed U.S. military objectives had largely been achieved, including maintaining access through the Strait of Hormuz, despite saying commercial traffic through the waterway had fallen sharply. "I think they're completed now, honestly. “If we left now, it would take them 20 years to build what they have,” he said.
“Not a primary concern,” Trump said, referring to reported activity at a nuclear site outside Tehran that had been hit by the U.S. previously and could be struck again if needed.
The president also said Iran’s military capabilities have been “degraded substantially", even as he acknowledged the country still has some capacity to respond militarily.
The latest comments come amid mounting tensions between Washington and Tehran, with the conflict raising concerns over regional security, global energy supplies and the risk of further escalation.
