In his remarks to Republican House members at a policy retreat, President Donald Trump was quoted as saying the United States is ready to escalate its military campaign against Iran on an "unprecedented level." The President said that if Tehran obstructed the Strait of Hormuz, Iran would be hit "twenty times harder" than struck during battle's first week.
The “Twenty Times” Ultimatum
In a number of statements on social media and during phone calls, President Trump has announced that although the US and Israel have already “crushed” most of Iran's conventional military while referencing its destruction of naval and air-defense systems thousands of “devastating” targets remained on the list.
“In the event that Iran ever stops the flow of oil in the Strait of Hormuz then they will be hit TWENTY TIMES HARDER by the United States of America than they have been hit thus far,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. “We will also eliminate targets that are easily destroyable that will make it next to impossible for Iran to be built back once more, as a nation.”
Gulf States Under Fire
The rhetoric comes on the heels of a violent night throughout the Arabian Peninsula. On the morning of Tuesday, air-raid sirens rumbled past Dubai and Manama as Iran struck its Gulf countries housing American forces back.
- United Arab Emirates: Air defenses blocked a missile and drone swarm attacking Fujairah but a fire was reported at an oil facility.
- Bahrain: Officials said that at least 32 people were injured in a strike on the island of Sitra.
- Saudi Arabia: The Kingdom said two drones were destroyed over its Eastern Province and projectiles were intercepted that sought to target the Shaybah oil field.
- Kuwait: After a lethal strike earlier in the week, National Guard units shot down six drones in Kuwait City.
A War of Mixed Signals
In Trump’s own words, there was just more of a war at hand, even as he framed the current version of the war as “very complete” or getting close to ending. He characterized the operation as a “short-term excursion” that was designed to root out “evil” and prevent Iran from attaining nuclear breakout. But Tehran’s new chief appears uncowed.
His son Mojtaba Khamenei is appointed the third Supreme Leader after the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei at the beginning of the war. Today, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told reporters that the country would remain ready to continue missile use “as long as necessary,” rejecting any discussions at large, including with Washington, immediately.
Global Economic Impact
The friction has thrown world oil prices off the gas, swinging back down from nearly $120 a barrel to $90 in the interest of potentially loosening certain oil-related sanctions to calm the market. With the Strait of Hormuz the world’s most significant energy artery coming to a near standstill, the “gift” of open lanes is Trump’s dominant rationale for potentially engaging in “Death, Fire, and Fury.”
