Trump threatens to launch ‘big attack’ on Iran, resume naval blockade

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President Trump threatened to launch another “big attack” against Iran and warned that the U.S. Navy could resume its naval blockade in the Strait of Hormuz, less than 24 hours after the U.S. military attacked the country in retaliation for Iranian attacks on commercial ships.

“You know, normally I wouldn’t tell you, but you know what, there’s not a thing they can do about it,” Trump said Wednesday in Ankara, Turkey, when asked if more U.S. attacks would be coming today. “So, the answer is probably.”

“I’ll give them a little warning: We’re going to hit them hard tonight, but we’ll see how it all works out,” the president said, adding he is not “happy” with Iran’s leadership.

Trump also floated that he may reimpose the naval blockade, which was lifted last month after Iran and the U.S. signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to end the conflict. The U.S. military redirected 142 commercial vessels that complied with the warnings of U.S. forces in the region and disabled nine ships that did not.

“We may put down the blockade, we may put it back to blockade, and it’ll only be a blockade for Iran,” Trump said.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the Pentagon would strike Iran “even more and even deeper” if the president gives the green light.

On Tuesday evening, the U.S. military launched a barrage of strikes on Iran, hitting more than 80 targets with precision munitions, including air defense systems, command and control networks, coastal radar sites, anti-ship missile capabilities and more than 60 Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps small boats inside and near the Strait of Hormuz, U.S. Central Command said.

The strikes were in retaliation for Iran hitting three commercial vessels transiting the strait in recent days.

Trump said Wednesday U.S. forces could take out Iran’s desalination plants but added that he would “hate to do that.”

The president said the U.S. military struck Kharg Island but spared its oil infrastructure, which handles about 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports. Trump also mused that the U.S. could take over the island located in the Persian Gulf.

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Pete Hegseth

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