US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will continue its military campaign against Iran unless Tehran returns to the negotiating table and agrees to abandon its nuclear ambitions.
Speaking to Fox News on Tuesday, Trump said US forces would intensify their attacks over the coming days, signalling that key energy infrastructure and other strategic targets could be struck if Iran refuses to negotiate.
“We’re going to hit them very hard tonight, very hard tomorrow night,” Trump said, adding that energy facilities would be targeted later in the campaign. He also warned that bridges and power plants could become future targets if no agreement is reached.
Trump said he had deliberately avoided targeting Iran’s energy sector during the initial phase of the operation but indicated that restraint would not continue indefinitely.
The President compared Iran to “a great boxer”, saying sustained military pressure would continue until he decided it was enough.
“You think you have them beat, then they’ll come back and give you a shot,” he said.
Although Trump criticised Iran’s negotiating position, claiming “they lie”, he revealed that US officials had been in contact with Iranian negotiators as recently as an hour before the interview.
He also warned Tehran to reach an agreement or face severe consequences.
“You better make a deal, or you’re not going to have anything left,” he said.
Trump did not rule out deploying US ground forces if necessary, particularly to secure Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium.
The latest military campaign follows Trump’s notification to Congress that operations would resume after Iran allegedly violated a previous memorandum of understanding by targeting commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The US military has since reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports, saying the move was a response to attacks on commercial shipping and aimed at preventing further threats to maritime security.
US Central Command said at least 19 warships, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship carrying more than 1,000 Marines, have been deployed in the northern Arabian Sea to enforce the blockade.
The command also said hundreds of military aircraft were operating across the Middle East as part of ongoing operations. According to the military, strikes carried out shortly before the blockade took effect targeted Iranian missile and drone sites, naval assets, ammunition storage facilities and communications infrastructure.
Iranian state media reported explosions in the southwestern city of Ahvaz and the southern port of Bandar Abbas, although no further details were immediately released.
US Central Command said nearly a dozen civilians had been killed, injured or reported missing following Iranian attacks on seven commercial ships over the past week. It also accused Iran of launching dozens of missiles and drones at neighbouring Gulf states hosting US military bases.
“US forces are holding Iran accountable for unwarranted aggression that continues to endanger innocent lives,” said CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
The latest escalation comes after an interim ceasefire collapsed when Iran allegedly attacked three vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting retaliatory US strikes.
The Strait of Hormuz, through which around one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes, has become a major flashpoint in the conflict. Brent crude oil prices rose above US$86 a barrel following the latest strikes as markets reacted to growing concerns over disruption to global energy supplies.
Over the past week, Iran has also claimed responsibility for attacks targeting countries hosting US military bases, including Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman and Qatar.
