US President Donald Trump stated that the American military will resume strikes against Iran if there is no progress in negotiations regarding the nuclear deal and the opening of the Strait of Hormuz. According to him, the final decision depends on whether Tehran agrees to sign a "very serious agreement." The head of the White House emphasized that, in his estimation, the Iranian regime currently has no other way out than to accept Washington's demands.
Ultimatum on the Nuclear Deal and the Strait of Hormuz
Trump designated Iran's readiness to sign a "very serious agreement" and ensure navigation through the Strait of Hormuz as the key condition for maintaining the peace track. The US President directly linked the possibility of resuming strikes to the lack of progress in these two areas and stated that he is ready to use force if necessary, noting that he had previously delivered a "very serious blow" to the Iranian side.
"Failed State": Betting on Economic Pressure
Justifying his tough stance, Trump called Iran a "failed state" and cited macroeconomic indicators that, according to him, "appeared this year": inflation in Iran, by his estimate, stands at 301%. Against this background, he stated that the likelihood of resuming strikes is "extremely low," but the US is ready to carry them out if necessary.
Combat Readiness: Aircraft Carriers and "38 Bridges in the Crosshairs"
According to the US President, American military forces in the region are in full combat readiness and can launch an operation upon his command. "I have three aircraft carriers here. Another one just arrived. We have three of them. They are fully ready for combat," the head of the White House stated. Furthermore, he asserted that the US has already identified potential targets for new strikes, specifically energy and transport infrastructure facilities: "We have 38 bridges in our crosshairs that we can destroy in literally one hour."
"I'm a Good Builder": Reluctance to Destroy Infrastructure
At the same time, Trump stated that he would prefer not to inflict massive damage on Iranian infrastructure, as rebuilding it, by his estimate, could take years. "It will take essentially 10 years to rebuild it... I don't like destroying bridges. And a bridge is the most difficult structure to build. It takes years, and I'm a good builder," he assured, effectively outlining an economic argument against a large-scale operation.
Admin Divisions and Three Scenarios
It was previously reported that Trump is considering several different action scenarios in the Middle East, while divisions within the US presidential administration have intensified regarding further steps concerning Iran. Earlier, according to RFI, Washington also linked readiness for a massive strike to other scenarios, including threats against the American leadership, indicating the multi-variant nature of the US military strategy in the region.
