Trump renews threat to Iran's energy, oil sites despite 'great progress' in talks

US President Trump's latest threat came as Iran's Foreign Ministry slammed the US administration's "excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable" demands.

Elizabeth Hagedorn

Mar 30, 2026

WASHINGTON — US President Donald Trump touted "great progress" in talks with Iran on Monday, while doubling down on his threat to bomb the country's civilian infrastructure if no deal is reached.

In a Truth Social post shortly before markets opened, Trump stated that while no agreement has been made to quickly reopen the Strait of Hormuz, “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.’”

The United States and Iran have been communicating indirectly through mediators including Pakistan, Turkey and Egypt. However, the positions of the two sides remain far apart. Last Thursday, Trump announced he would delay his threat to attack Iran's energy infrastructure again, pushing the deadline to April 6 while talks continue.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson, Esmail Baghaei, said on Monday that the 15-point plan proposed by the United States last week includes “excessive, unrealistic and unreasonable demands.” In response, Tehran has called for guarantees against future US attacks, compensation for strike-related damage and recognition of its right to control traffic in the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, Trump said Sunday that the United States had achieved “regime change” in Iran due to the number of its leaders who have been killed. However, analysts say the elevation of Mojtaba Khamenei to supreme leader — a hard-liner close to the powerful Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps — signals a hardening of Iran’s stance toward the West.

© Al Monitor