Washington: US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that Iran's delays in negotiating a deal to end hostilities with Washington will result in severe consequences for the Middle Eastern nation. Trump emphasized that the United States is nearing a decision to initiate new strikes against crucial Iranian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges, a move prompted by what he described as Iran's prolonged and unproductive negotiations.
According to Anadolu Agency, Trump's statements were made during an interview with Fox News, where he criticized Iran's military capabilities, asserting that much of it had been dismantled. He further elaborated on his social media platform, Truth Social, declaring, "Iran's Military is a complete and total mess. Much of it, like their Navy and Air Force, doesn't even exist anymore - They have been completely defeated. Iran is all talk and no action." In a bold proclamation, he stated, "The Bully of the Middle East is DEAD!!! They've taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!"
The tensions between the two nations have been escalating, with recent confrontations involving exchanges of military strikes. The US Central Command reported that American fighter jets targeted Iranian air defense systems and radar installations near the Strait of Hormuz following the downing of a US Army Apache helicopter. In retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for attacks on 21 American military targets across US air and naval bases in the region.
In a separate message on Wednesday, Trump praised the US naval blockade on Iran, describing it as "the most successful Blockade in the history of Naval Warfare," asserting its effectiveness in crippling Iran's economic and military operations. He stated, "NOTHING GETS THROUGH unless we want it to. IT IS A STEEL WALL! Iran is doing ZERO business, not paying their military, or any of their bills, and quickly becoming a FAILED NATION! Lots of oil is getting out. Praise be to Allah."
During his Fox News interview, Trump revealed further insights into the incident involving the downed US aircraft, noting that an Iranian drone had interfered with the helicopter's pilots during a critical maneuver. Remarkably, the rescue operation for the pilots marked the first use of an unmanned sea drone in US military history. He also highlighted that despite the ceasefire, Iran had attempted to rebuild its defensive capabilities.
When questioned about potential responses to Iranian missile attacks targeting US forces in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, Trump remarked, "I may keep going. 'They had a chance to sign a deal and survive.'"