NEW: Trump Issues Ominous Threat To Iran

President Donald Trump is turning up the heat on Tehran, warning he could wipe out critical infrastructure if Iran refuses to back down and reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

In a Monday morning Truth Social post, Trump threatened to “blow up and completely obliterate” Iran’s electric plants and oil wells if the regime refuses to strike a peace deal to end the escalating conflict.

The president said the U.S. was in “serious discussions with a new, and more reasonable regime” and claimed “great progress had been made” — comments that hit just before Wall Street opened.

But Trump quickly followed with a sharper warning, saying that if Iran refuses to reopen the vital shipping lane, the U.S. would target “electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants.”

That threat carries massive humanitarian stakes. Iran depends heavily on desalination facilities to provide fresh water to its population of more than 90 million.

Under the Geneva Convention, targeting civilian infrastructure essential to survival, like water and power systems, is strictly prohibited.

The escalating rhetoric comes as Tehran considers a dramatic step of its own: exiting the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which it has long pointed to as evidence it is not pursuing nuclear weapons.

Map of Iran

U.S. intelligence officials, however, have warned for years that Iran’s enrichment activity could put it on a path toward a bomb.

“What is the benefit of joining a treaty in which bullying parties at the international level not only do not allow us to benefit from its rights but also attack our nuclear facilities?” an Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson said.

Markets whipsawed on the mixed signals.

Stock futures jumped after Trump hinted a deal might be close. Dow futures climbed 357 points, or 0.8%, while S&P 500 and Nasdaq futures each rose 0.8%.

At the same time, oil surged. Brent crude hit $115 a barrel, up 2%, while U.S. crude climbed to $101, gaining 1.4%.

Trump’s pattern of issuing market-moving statements before the opening bell hasn’t gone unnoticed.

Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf accused Trump of trying to juice stocks with his timing.

“Heads-up: Pre-market so-called “news” or “Truth” is often just a setup for profit-taking. Basically, it’s a reverse indicator. Do the opposite: If they pump it, short it. If they dump it, go long,” he posted on X.

Meanwhile, some military voices are urging restraint.

Retired U.S. Army Gen. Wesley Clark warned that hitting Iran’s civilian infrastructure could cross a legal red line.

“A lot of people will say it’s a war crime because mostly these power plants are probably there for the civilian population,” Clark said in a NewsNation interview. “You cannot destroy civilian assets in an effort to put harm on the population.”

As Washington moves thousands of troops into the region amid fears of a broader conflict, Iran is digging in — fortifying key positions and preparing defenses around strategic positions like Kharg Island, which handles roughly 90% of the country’s oil exports.

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