Trump Warns of Strikes on Iranian Power Plants if No Deal by Next Week

U.S. President Donald Trump has warned that if an agreement regarding the end of hostilities is not reached with Iran by next week, he will order strikes on the country's power plants and bridges.
In an interview with Fox News on July 14 (local time), President Trump stated, "We are hitting them very hard. They need to be hit. We are attacking them very severely."
"If they don't come to the table and negotiate, we will take down all their power plants. We will take down all their bridges as well," he reiterated.
On the same day, the U.S. Central Command continued its airstrikes for the fourth consecutive day, focusing on Iranian military facilities near the Strait of Hormuz.
A naval blockade against Iran has also been resumed.
President Trump declared that the airstrikes against Iran would continue "until I say enough."
Comparing the Iranian military to a "great boxer," he remarked, "They have been weakened to a very low level, but they still have the strength to fight."
When asked if he would attack other targets in Iran, such as energy facilities, he replied that he would "expand" the targets, adding, "I will leave energy facilities for last, but eventually, I will attack them as well."
However, when asked whether he would deploy ground troops to occupy Kharg Island, the oil export terminal considered Iran's "Achilles' heel," he avoided a specific answer, saying, "I cannot talk about that. It would be foolish." He left the possibility open, however, by adding, "Maybe one day we will do that, but the possibility is low as far as that issue (occupation) is concerned. If we weaken and push them back enough, we will do it."
President Trump once again mentioned "Pickaxe Mountain," known to house underground nuclear facilities, as a target under consideration for additional U.S. airstrikes.
"We are watching every part of Pickaxe Mountain," he said, suggesting the possibility of using "bunker busters," which were used to strike Iranian underground nuclear facilities last year.
The day before, President Trump had also remarked, "We will eliminate Iran's Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be prepared."
Furthermore, when asked when he last spoke with Iran, President Trump revealed that U.S. representatives had actually spoken with an Iranian delegation "about an hour ago" before the interview.
He stated that he had delivered a message to Iran through the U.S. delegation, saying, "It would be better to make a deal. Otherwise, we will leave nothing left and scorch the earth," adding, "I don't know if they will actually do it."
(Photo: AP, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.