President Donald Trump on Tuesday dismissed reports that he is attempting to pressure Iran into returning to negotiations with Washington, saying he is satisfied with the United States’ current position as Tehran faces mounting military and economic pressure.
“I’m not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table, as ABC Fake News reported. I couldn’t care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing,” Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He followed that message with a direct appeal to Iranians, writing, “They are just playing out the inevitable. When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?”
Trump’s remarks came after the United States launched a new round of strikes against Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps targets inside Iran. Early reports indicated that Qeshm Island and Chabahar were among the locations hit, with explosions reported in both areas.
US Central Command said American forces had completed the wave of attacks against Iranian military infrastructure.
“US forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites,” CENTCOM said.
“The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members,” the command added.
Trump had earlier said the military operation was launched in retaliation for Iranian actions in the Strait of Hormuz as well as a previous missile attack targeting a US military installation in Jordan. He also warned Tehran that any response to the American operation would trigger significantly stronger US attacks.
“The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The president then issued an even more severe warning about what could follow if Iran retaliates.
“If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!” he added.
{Matzav.com}
