Open Hormuz or else: Trump threatens to blow up Iran's power plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island

Donald Trump has issued a stern warning to Tehran, in his latest social media post, the US president says that he is in “serious discussions with a new, and more reasonable, regime to end our military operations in Iran.” Not too long ago, he said he was in talks with the leadership, but Tehran denied his claims and said “no direct or indirect talks” have taken place with America.

The 79-year-old added, “Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately “Open for Business,” we will conclude our lovely “stay” in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their electric generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinisation plants!), which we have purposefully not yet touched.”

He said it will be in “retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47-year reign of terror.” Amid the ongoing war, which has created a global energy crisis, Trump had announced a pause for 5 days on March 23 and then extended it for 10 days on March 27. According to this timeline, the 10th day would be April 6, but today on March 30, the US president threatened Iran even before the ultimatum could end. As the US and Israel's joint military operation in Iran was paused as per Donald Trump's claims. In a social media post he wrote, “I have instructed the Department of War to postpone any and all military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for a five-day period, subject to the success of the ongoing meetings and discussions.” He also pointed to “detailed, and constructive conversations”, while Tehran denies any such dialogue. The Foreign Ministry's spokesman, Esmaeil Baqaei, said no direct or indirect talks have taken place in the last 24 hours, and the parliament speaker, Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf, reiterated.

What began as a joint military strike in Iran on February 28 has spread across the region far and beyond. Following the attack which killed Iranian supreme leader Ali Khamenei, Tehran conducted airstrikes on American bases in West Asia.