President Donald Trump on Wednesday warned that the United States could carry out another round of military strikes against Iran, only hours after declaring that the ceasefire had effectively collapsed following Iranian attacks on American military installations in the Persian Gulf.
Trump also revived previous threats to target Iran’s civilian infrastructure, including electricity and desalination facilities, and suggested the U.S. could move against Kharg Island, home to the majority of Iran’s oil export infrastructure.
“We hit them very hard last night,” Trump said when asked about a possible return to hostilities. “We’ll probably hit them hard again tonight.”
Speaking in Ankara, Turkey, on the sidelines of a NATO summit, Trump said the military action was a response to what he described as Iranian attacks on commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz.
“They are behaving very badly,” he said of Iran, accusing the country of launching drones and a missile at ships.
According to Trump, after three oil tankers were struck on Tuesday, the United States responded with military strikes on Iran, prompting Tehran to retaliate by targeting American military bases in the Gulf.
Fears of renewed conflict
The latest exchange of attacks has heightened concerns that fighting between the two sides could escalate again.
Those fears intensified after Trump said the temporary ceasefire was effectively finished, although he indicated diplomatic contacts would still be allowed to continue.
The fragile truce has faced repeated challenges in recent days, but Trump’s latest remarks injected fresh uncertainty into the situation.
Oil prices climbed following his comments, reflecting concerns that renewed fighting could disrupt energy supplies passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for global oil shipments.
The U.S. military launched strikes after accusing Tehran of attacking three commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz.
The operation, according to U.S. officials, formed part of a broader strategy that also sought to further restrict Iran’s ability to export crude oil on the international market.
“For me, I think it’s over,” Trump said when asked about the status of the ceasefire. He added that U.S. representatives can continue negotiations, but he cast doubt on the outcome. “They can talk, but I think they’re wasting their time,” he said.
