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President Trump promised a massive attack against Iran if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, he said the clock is ticking on his ten-day period for negotiation.
“Remember when I gave Iran ten days to MAKE A DEAL or OPEN UP THE HORMUZ STRAIT,” he posted.
“Time is running out – 48 hours before all Hell will reign [sic] down on them. Glory be to GOD!”
On Saturday, explosions were reported at a major petrochemical facility in Iran, with Israel claiming responsibility for them.
Israel’s leadership is reported to have instructed the Israeli Defense Forces to begin targeting “economic targets” in Iran, in a bid to case “massive financial damage” to the regime.
Iranian media also reported an attack on the Bushehr nuclear power plant, the only nuclear power plant in Iran. The attack damaged a perimeter wall and left one person dead. Staff from the plant were evacuated.
Last weekend, President Trump reiterated his threat to attack Iran’s infrastructure, including energy facilities, if the Strait of Hormuz is not “immediately” reopened.
In a post on Truth Social, the President said, “The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran.”
He continued by hailing the “great progress” that has been made, but issued a stern warning that went beyond earlier threats to attack critical infrastructure that had previously been spared.
“Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately ‘Open for Business,’ we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet ‘touched.’”
In related news, the US military has rescued the second pilot of an F-15 jet downed over Iran.
“WE GOT HIM!” Trump posted on Truth Social early on Sunday morning.
“My fellow Americans, over the past several hours, the United States Military pulled off one of the most daring Search and Rescue Operations in U.S. History, for one of our incredible Crew Member Officers, who also happens to be a highly respected Colonel, and who I am thrilled to let you know is now SAFE and SOUND!”
The mission to rescue the fighter pilot, which began on Friday, involved dozens of US aircraft.
President Trump said the first pilot had been rescued earlier, but no official confirmation was issued “because we did not want to jeopardize our second rescue operation.”
Trump said little during the rescue operation; although he did confirm in an interview that the incident would have no effect on negotiations with Iran.
The second pilot was monitored closely as he evaded capture in the mountains of southern Iran.
He sustained injuries, but President Trump said he would be “just fine.”
The rescue mission was completed without a single casualty, a testament, President Trump said, to the fact that “we have achieved overwhelming Air Dominance and Superiority over the Iranian skies.”
