President Trump is threatening to destroy power plants and bridges come tomorrow night if Iran does not agree to *** deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz. And this afternoon, the president dismissed critics who warned that strikes on civilian infrastructure could amount to war crimes. We have *** plan because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant. In Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again. I mean complete demolition. Iran called those threats reckless while reportedly rejecting *** 45 day ceasefire proposal drawn up by regional mediators. Iran is calling for *** permanent end to the war with guarantees that they won’t be attacked again. Now despite Stalled diplomacy. President Trump says that he believes that Iranians are negotiating in good faith, saying that the new leaders are less radical. He asserted that his administration has effectively achieved regime change, but yet is still calling on the Iranian people to take over their government. Would they want you to blow up their infrastructure, to cut off their power? Wouldn’t that be punishing? Iranians for the actions of the regime, they would be willing to, they would be willing, and it’s suffering. They would be willing to suffer that in order to have freedom. And asked if he’s winding down the war as he previously suggested or escalating it, President Trump told reporters, quote, I can’t tell you. I don’t know, adding it depends on what Iran does next. Reporting at the White House. I’m Jackie DeFusco.
Trump threatens to destroy Iranian power plants in hours, dismisses war crime concerns
President Donald Trump told reporters on Monday that the US military has a plan to destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran within four hours without a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump is threatening to destroy bridges and power plants if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz before 8 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday night, dismissing critics who warn that strikes on civilian infrastructure could be considered war crimes.”We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again,” Trump said during a press briefing on Monday. “It’ll happen over a period of four hours if we want it to.”Iran called those threats “reckless.” On Monday, Tehran reportedly rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal from regional mediators and, instead, called for a permanent end to the war, with guarantees against future attacks.Despite the stalled diplomacy, Trump said he believes that the Iranians are negotiating in good faith. He said the country’s new leaders are “smarter” and “far less radical.Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been widely described as a hard-line figure with close ties to a powerful arm of the Iranian military. His lack of public appearances has raised questions about his condition.Trump asserted that his military operation has effectively achieved regime change, but continued to urge anti-government protesters to rise up once it’s safe to do so.Asked if he’s punishing the Iranian people by attacking civilian infrastructure, Trump told reporters, “They would be willing to suffer that in order to have freedom.”When pressed on whether any civilian targets are off limits, Trump said, “I don’t want to tell you that.” He added that, despite his threats, he doesn’t want to hit Iranian infrastructure because the United States may help the country rebuild down the road. Trump was also asked to clarify if he is escalating the war or winding it down, as he previously suggested.”I can’t tell you. I don’t know,” Trump said. “It depends what they do. This is a critical period.”
President Donald Trump is threatening to destroy bridges and power plants if Iran doesn’t agree to a deal that includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz before 8 p.m. Eastern time on Tuesday night, dismissing critics who warn that strikes on civilian infrastructure could be considered war crimes.
“We have a plan, because of the power of our military, where every bridge in Iran will be decimated by 12 o’clock tomorrow night, where every power plant in Iran will be out of business, burning, exploding, and never to be used again,” Trump said during a press briefing on Monday. “It’ll happen over a period of four hours if we want it to.”
Iran called those threats “reckless.” On Monday, Tehran reportedly rejected a 45-day ceasefire proposal from regional mediators and, instead, called for a permanent end to the war, with guarantees against future attacks.
Despite the stalled diplomacy, Trump said he believes that the Iranians are negotiating in good faith. He said the country’s new leaders are “smarter” and “far less radical.
Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has been widely described as a hard-line figure with close ties to a powerful arm of the Iranian military. His lack of public appearances has raised questions about his condition.
Trump asserted that his military operation has effectively achieved regime change, but continued to urge anti-government protesters to rise up once it’s safe to do so.
Asked if he’s punishing the Iranian people by attacking civilian infrastructure, Trump told reporters, “They would be willing to suffer that in order to have freedom.”
When pressed on whether any civilian targets are off limits, Trump said, “I don’t want to tell you that.” He added that, despite his threats, he doesn’t want to hit Iranian infrastructure because the United States may help the country rebuild down the road.
Trump was also asked to clarify if he is escalating the war or winding it down, as he previously suggested.
“I can’t tell you. I don’t know,” Trump said. “It depends what they do. This is a critical period.”