Trump Threatens Major Attack on Iran Amid Explosion Reports on Qeshm Island
On Thursday, reports emerged from Iran about an explosion on Qeshm Island in the country's south, with official Iranian media, including Tasnim News Agency, claiming it was a U.S. strike. This incident coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump's recent threats of a large-scale military operation against Tehran, which he described as potentially the biggest ever. Trump stated he is close to making a decision and emphasized that U.S. forces are fully prepared. He also mentioned that Israel could join the operation within two minutes if requested, hinting at possible consequences if Iran retaliates.
In Washington, there is growing recognition that negotiations alone cannot restrain Iran. U.S. officials are considering increasing economic pressure, reinstating an oil export embargo, and encouraging internal dissent by identifying collaborators within the Iranian regime. Meanwhile, the Trump administration issued a public ultimatum to Saudi Arabia, with White House spokeswoman Caroline Lvoit clarifying that a nuclear energy agreement between the U.S. and Riyadh depends on Saudi normalization of relations with Israel under the Abraham Accords. Lvoit stressed that the deal will not proceed without this condition and denied that the demand originated from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, attributing it instead to Trump’s initiative to expand his administration’s diplomatic achievements.
Against this backdrop of heightened security and diplomatic tension, Prime Minister Netanyahu is scheduled to hold a limited security consultation tomorrow. Trump is also expected to attend a White House press dinner postponed since April due to an assassination attempt on him. Next week, Trump plans to deliver an economic speech in Michigan, participate in a memorial for the late Senator Lindsey Graham, and host a Cabinet meeting at Camp David.
