Trump Orders Military to Prepare for Fresh Assault on Iran
US President Donald Trump has instructed his military to prepare for a fresh assault against Iran as early as this weekend, according to a Wall Street Journal report. The proposed operation aims to pressure Tehran into surrendering.
The move follows recent comments from President Trump casting doubt on ongoing diplomatic efforts with Iran. He reiterated warnings of severe military retaliation in response to an attack on a US military installation in Jordan, stating 'We'll be hitting them very hard,' and 'at some point they'll say we just can't take it anymore.'
Separately, CBS reported that Washington is considering strikes on Iranian energy facilities, such as electrical power stations and petroleum refineries. Human rights organizations have expressed concerns that intentional strikes targeting civilian infrastructure could constitute war crimes.
The potential military escalation has sent crude oil prices surging, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude surpassing $86 per barrel during post-settlement trading on Friday afternoon.