The United States is reportedly deploying additional warships and troops to the Middle East, despite mixed signals from US President Donald Trump suggesting he was considering “winding down” military operations in the region.
In the wake of soaring oil prices, Trump also threatened to attack Kharg Island, which is vital to Iran’s oil exports as the majority of its oil leave the country via the island.
“I may have a plan I may not,” Trump told reporters leaving the White House on Friday. “It’s certainly a place that people are talking about. But I can’t tell you that,” he added.
The mixed messaging followed another surge in oil prices, with oil prices rising above $119 per barrel, up from roughly $70 before the war with Iran began, prompting the Trump administration to lift sanctions on Iranian oil already loaded onto ships.
Meanwhile, the US leader slammed other NATO allies as “cowards” for not directly joining military operations to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial corridor for the transport of the world’s oil, which is currently blocked by Iran.
Lying between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman, around 20% of the world’s oil trade normally passes through the strait.
“Without the USA, NATO IS A PAPER TIGER! They didn’t want to join the fight to stop a Nuclear Powered Iran. Now that fight is Militarily WON, with very little danger for them,” Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social.
“They complain about the high oil prices they are forced to pay, but don’t want to help open the Strait of Hormuz, a simple military maneuver that is the single reason for high oil prices,” he added.
Trump’s post on social media followed after Iran threatened to target officials and military commanders from the US and Israel, and that it would attack recreational and tourist sites worldwide if it had to.
“We are watching your cowardly officials and commanders, pilots and wicked soldiers,” armed forces spokesman Abolfazl Shekarchi said, quoted by state TV.
“From now on, based on the information we have on you, the promenades, resorts and tourist and entertainment centres in the world will not be safe for you either”.
The latest developments are an incidation that the war does not show any signs of de-escalating, with attacks continuing across the region.
On Friday, explosions were reported across Tehran as Iranians marked Nowruz, the Persian New Year. The Israeli military continued its strikes on the Iranian capital, announcing on Friday that it killed three top Iranian commanders.
Meanwhile, Iran has ramped up its campaign against energy infrstructure across the Gulf after Israel struck Iran’s offshore South Pars gas field, part of the world’s largest natural gas reserves and which Iran shares with Qatar.
Kuwait’s Mina Al-Ahmadi oil refinery came under attack several times by Iranian drones. Iran also struck a Qatar’s Ras Laffan energy facility. Authorities reported extensive damage and said it had reduced Qatar’s export capacity of LNG by 17%. Tehran also targeted oil facilities in Saudi Arabia and Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has since pledged that Israel would hold off launching further attacks on Iranian gas fields following a request by US President Donald Trump.