US President Donald Trump renewed his military threats against Iran in an interview with Fox News and announced that tougher steps would be taken if negotiations do not begin. Trump said, "We hit them very hard," and stated that operations against targets along Iran's coastline are continuing.
"We will hit them very hard tonight. We will hit them very hard tomorrow night. And we will hit them very hard the night after that," the US President said, calling on the Iranian leadership to come to the negotiating table. Trump added, "If they don't sit down and negotiate, we will destroy all their energy plants, all their bridges."
Touching on the strategic Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the strait is open to anyone who wants to pass but is kept closed to Iran. The US President said, "I was going to charge a fee, but instead (the Gulf countries) prefer to spend a lot of money in the US, which frankly is better," and noted that operations in Hormuz would continue "until he says enough."
Trump also disclosed that two attacks were carried out on Kharg Island, Iran's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. "As for taking the island, if we can push them back far enough and deep enough, I will do it," he said.
The US President argued that the only way to reach a deal with Iran is "through strength." Trump's threat to strike civilian infrastructure targets had been raised before, but the option was not implemented due to criticism that it would constitute a war crime.