Donald Trump has warned he is not ready to seek a deal to end the US-Israeli offensive against Iran, saying that though he thought Tehran was keen to negotiate a ceasefire, the US would fight on for better terms.
Trump’s comments came as Iran launched fresh missile and drone attacks on countries in the Gulf and on Israel, and Israeli and US warplanes launched new waves of strikes on Iran.
The conflict has plunged the Middle East into chaos, upended global air travel and disrupted oil exports from the region, sending fuel prices rising around the world.
Neither Tehran nor Washington appeared ready to moderate their rhetoric despite the mounting death toll and soaring oil prices after the virtual closure of the strait of Hormuz sea lane.
Trump, speaking on Saturday to NBC News, said the US may bomb targets on Kharg Island, which is the site of Iran’s principal oil export facility, once more “just for fun”, after US warplanes targeted military installations there on Friday.
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said, adding that US forces would step up attacks on the Iranian coast north of the strait to clear a path for oil shipments.
Experts say it will be extremely difficult for the US to reopen the strait through military means alone as long as Iran retains the ability to hit or harass shipping with missiles, drones or small boats.
Trump has called for other countries’ warships to help protect tankers passing through the strait, which usually carries about a fifth of the world’s oil and gas supplies. More than 600 ships are trapped in the Red Sea.
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