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US President Donald Trump on Sunday issued one of his harshest warnings yet to Iran, saying he was considering “blowing up everything and seizing the oil” if Tehran fails to reach a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil shipping lane.Speaking to a Fox News journalist, Trump said: “I think there’s a good chance tomorrow, they’re negotiating right now. And if they don’t come to an agreement and quickly, I’m thinking about blowing up the whole thing and seizing the oil.”
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‘Strait of Hormuz still closed’: Iran challenges Trump to ‘forever war’ and laughs at 48-hour Hormuz deadline
Threats escalate amid standoff in the Strait of Hormuz
The president’s warning came as tensions in the Middle East escalated after the war, which broke out on February 28 following US-Israeli strikes on Iran, destabilizing regional stability and the global oil market.
Iran has largely closed the Strait of Hormuz and launched attacks on Israel and its Gulf neighbors, prompting urgent diplomatic steps.Trump, who had earlier celebrated the “miraculous” rescue of a seriously injured American pilot from deep in Iranian territory, also threatened to strike Iranian power plants and bridges if they did not comply. “Tuesday will be Power Plant Day and Bridge Day, rolled into one, in Iran. There will be nothing like it!!!” Advertise on its Social Truth platform.
He added: “Open the strait, you crazy people, or you will live in hell – just watch! Thank God.”At the same time, Iran claims to have thwarted the rescue attempt, and distributed photos of the destroyed planes, although it did not deny the success of American forces in retrieving the pilot. American media reported that some of the transport aircraft participating in the operation were destroyed to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.
Regional repercussions and global concern
The conflict has extended beyond Iran and the United States, with attacks on critical infrastructure reported in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Kuwait, while US diplomatic sites in Iraq have also been targeted. Lebanon has been increasingly drawn in, with Israel striking southern Lebanon and southern Beirut, killing many civilians, according to Agence France-Presse.An attack near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear plant last Saturday killed a guard and prompted Russia, which partly runs the facility, to evacuate 198 workers. It condemned the attack and described it as an “evil act.” Iranian officials warned that more attacks could lead to radioactive fallout affecting Gulf capitals.Meanwhile, life in Tehran appeared largely normal despite the threats and strikes, with residents seen picnicking and flying kites near famous landmarks, highlighting the contrast between the political escalation and daily life in the city.
