US Warns of Escalation as Conflict With Iran Intensifies

PTI, March 30, 2026, Dubai: US President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran's energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, if a deal to end the war is not reached "shortly."

Tehran meanwhile struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait, and an oil refinery in Israel came under attack. Israel and the US launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, as the war raged with no end in sight.

Trump's new threat in a social media post and earlier comments in an interview with the Financial Times that suggested American troops could seize Iran's Kharg Island oil export hub highlighted a frequent tactic.

He has repeatedly claimed to be making diplomatic progress — though Tehran denies negotiating directly — while ramping up his threats and sending thousands more US troops to the Middle East.

It remains unclear where the diplomatic effort facilitated by Pakistan stands.

Iran's continuing attacks on its Gulf neighbours could further complicate any talks.

The United Arab Emirates — which has long billed itself as a beacon of stability in a volatile region — has been hard hit in the war, and is signalling it wants Iran disarmed in any ceasefire.

Iran's theocracy likely will not accept that.

In a social media post, Trump said "great progress is being made" in talks with Iran to end military operations.

But he said that if a deal is not reached "shortly," and if the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened, the US would broaden its offensive by "completely obliterating" power plants, oil wells, Kharg Island and possibly even desalination plants that supply drinking water.

The strait is a crucial waterway through which a fifth of the world's oil is shipped in peacetime.

The laws of armed conflict allow attacks on civilian infrastructure such as energy plants only if the military advantage outweighs the civilian harm, legal scholars say.

It is considered a high bar to clear, and causing excessive suffering to civilians can constitute a war crime.

In the Financial Times interview, Trump said his preference would be to "take the oil in Iran" — a move that would require seizing Kharg Island, the terminal through which nearly all of Iran's oil exports pass.