Trump Signals US Still Ready to Escalate Military Action Against Iran

Washington (ANTARA) - United States President Donald Trump on Monday declined to say what would happen next in negotiations with Iran, but signalled that the US still has the capability for a major military escalation. Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said, ‘You’ll find out,’ when asked about the next steps following the latest round of talks, which he had previously described as a ‘last chance’ for Iran before possible military action.

When asked whether ‘major escalation’ was still an option, Trump said the US has the capability to pursue that path if he chooses to do so. ‘Yes, we have certain capabilities if we want to do it,’ Trump said. ‘Yes, you’ll find out.’ Trump said the US would seek payment for damages caused by Iran over a 50-year period. ‘If there is damage to be paid, I think Iran should pay that damage,’ he added.

Turning to the Strait of Hormuz, Trump said the strategic waterway is ‘open’. ‘Yes, it’s open now… The only one controlling the Strait of Hormuz right now is the United States Navy. We have a blockade that is impenetrable. It’s like a wall of steel, and we let the people in that we want to let in, and they go in, and they’ve been going in and out, so it’s actually open now,’ Trump said. ‘We’re not letting them go into Iran. They’re not allowed into the strait to go to Iran, but it’s open to everybody else now,’ Trump continued. He acknowledged that Iran could still attempt to disrupt shipping, saying Iranian forces could ‘drop a mine every once in a while’, but claimed US forces had found and cleared mines throughout the strait. ‘You know, we’ve cleared the mines all over the strait, as you may have heard, you may not have heard. But we control the strait 100 per cent. Now, can they cause trouble? Yes, they can cause trouble, but they’re broke. They have no money,’ Trump said.