U.S. President Donald Trump threatened Monday to destroy key parts of Iran’s energy system, warning that the United States could continue its military operation by “blowing up and completely obliterating” the country’s electric generating plants, oil wells and Kharg Island if a deal is not reached reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
“The United States of America is in serious discussions with A NEW, AND MORE REASONABLE, REGIME to end our Military Operations in Iran,” Trump wrote Monday on Truth Social. “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.'”
The president added that such a move would equate to “retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime’s 47 year ‘Reign of Terror.'”
The widening war is now stretching far beyond Israel, with an Iranian strike killing a worker at a power and water facility in Kuwait. Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has reached a worst-case disruption scenario causing oil prices to surge as U.S. allies split over the response.
Iran’s main export hub at Kharg Island has already been a focal point in the conflict, with strikes targeting infrastructure tied directly to the country’s oil exports and economic lifeline.
Military.com reached out for comment to the Defense Department, U.S. Central Command, the Navy, the White House, the State Department, Spanish officials and Gulf state governments.
Trump, Hegseth and Rubio Send Different Signals
Even as the conflict escalates, messaging from Washington is increasingly inconsistent.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Friday after meeting G7 counterparts in France that the operation should last “weeks, not months.” Similar statements were made by the presidency and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in the conflict’s early days, with the former anticipating a 4-6 week window. Now, escalation to a ground war has seemingly occurred.
Hegseth said at a Cabinet meeting on Thursday that “never in recorded history has a nation’s military been so quickly and so effectively neutralized,” even as missile and drone attacks continue across the region.
Trump has alternated between declaring the war effectively won and warning that it is “not finished yet… it’s got to be finished,” underscoring the gap between official claims and the reality of continued attacks.
In June 2025, Trump said following U.S. strikes in Iran including Operation Midnight Hammer that Iranian nuclear enrichment facilities were “completely and totally obliterated.”
Strait of Hormuz Disruption Remains Major Hurdle
Shipping through the Strait of Hormuz is heavily disrupted as vessels delay transit, reroute, or are turning back mid-passage as security risks mount.
The narrow corridor, which carries about 20% of the world’s oil supply, is no longer operating as intended. Traffic has drastically slowed as shipping companies and insurers react to the growing threat of missile, drone and naval attacks. Earlier in the conflict, commercial vessels were struck while transiting the waterway.
Analysts warn that as many as 12 million barrels per day could be at risk, raising the stakes for global energy markets, fueling price volatility, and increasing the risk of broader economic fallout. Insurance premiums for tankers have surged as the strait effectively operates under constant threat conditions, limiting traffic even without confirmed new strikes.
The overall conflict has also moved decisively beyond Israel.
Kuwait’s Ministry of Electricity and Water said early Monday that an Iranian strike hit a power and water desalination plant and killed one worker, pushing the war deeper into Gulf civilian infrastructure. A ministry spokesperson said the strike caused “significant damage” to the facility and disrupted operations, adding that emergency crews were working to stabilize the site.
The broader regional fight is widening on multiple fronts. Houthi forces have expanded attacks into Yemen while a missile struck a fuel tanker and industrial building at Israel’s Oil Refineries in Haifa during attacks attributed to Iran or Iran-backed Hezbollah militants in Lebanon.
Oil Surges, Markets Slide as War Rattles Global Economy
Oil prices have surged to roughly $113 to $116 per barrel, climbing nearly 60% since the conflict began—marking one of the sharpest increases in recent history.
The spike is being driven by fears of prolonged disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, with traders pricing in geopolitical risk as shipping slows and threats to supply mount. Earlier in the war, prices surged past $110 as markets reacted to expanding attacks and the risk of sustained disruption along the corridor.
Markets are reacting sharply, with investors pulling back from risk and volatility rising as uncertainty over energy flows and the duration of the conflict deepens.
Cracks are also widening among U.S. allies.
“We don’t authorize either the use of military bases or the use of airspace for actions related to the war in Iran,” Spain Defense Minister Margarita Robles told reporters Monday in Madrid.
The move forces U.S. aircraft involved in the conflict to route around Spain and could complicate operations, underscoring that Washington does not have a fully unified Western front behind the campaign. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has also criticized the strikes as reckless and illegal.
US Builds Forces as Invasion Risk Rises
U.S. military posture in the region is increasing, with additional troops moving into the Gulf and amphibious forces remaining staged nearby.
The buildup positions the U.S. for rapid-response operations, including protecting shipping lanes, responding to attacks on regional bases and potentially securing critical infrastructure if the conflict escalates further.
Earlier deployments included thousands of Marines moving toward the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on tankers intensified, signaling preparation for sustained maritime security operations.
Additional troop movements have reinforced that posture, with further Marine deployments tied to contingency planning for a potential ground option if the conflict expands.
The moves underscore the growing risk that the war could expand beyond air and maritime operations into a ground scenario — particularly if the U.S. attempts to secure or seize key sites such as Kharg Island.
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