Trump Threatens to Obliterate Iran's Oil, Power, and Kharg Island

Trump declared the U.S. is in "serious discussions with a new, and more reasonable, regime" to end military operations in Iran. He's referring to the post-Khamenei leadership. Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei was killed in U.S.-Israeli strikes earlier in the conflict, and his son Mojtaba Khamenei was elevated to the position. Parliament Speaker Mohammad-Baqer Qalibaf is reportedly serving as the primary interlocutor.

The U.S. presented a 15-point proposal: complete end to Iran's nuclear program, cessation of proxy support, full reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, and limits on ballistic missiles. In exchange, sanctions relief.

YNET reported today (March 30) that Tehran formally rejected the ceasefire terms as "excessive." Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei called the proposals "excessive and unreasonable" and said Tehran is not participating in Pakistan-led diplomatic meetings.

If the Strait of Hormuz is not immediately reopened, Trump said the U.S. will "blow up and completely obliterate" Iran's electric generating plants, oil wells, and Kharg Island, and possibly its desalination plants. He called it "retribution for our many soldiers, and others, that Iran has butchered and killed over the old Regime's 47 year 'Reign of Terror.'"

Trump Lays It All Out

Trump told the Financial Times he wants to "take the oil in Iran" and is considering seizing Kharg Island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran's oil exports. He acknowledged taking Kharg could require a sustained U.S. troop presence. Brent crude rose 3.5% to above $116/barrel after the comments.

"To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the U.S. say: 'why are you doing that?' But they're stupid people."

— President Trump, Financial Times Interview

Aboard Air Force One, Trump told reporters Iran gave the U.S. a "tribute" of 20 oil tankers set to begin transiting the Strait of Hormuz Monday morning. He said there have already been two "regime changes" in Iran, and the members of both the first and second regimes are all dead, while the third regime has been "very reasonable."

On a deal: "I do see a deal in Iran. Could be soon." On negotiations: "U.S. negotiation with Iran is doing extremely well, but you never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them, and then we always have to blow them up."

On the nuclear program: "They're going to give up nuclear weapons. They're going to do everything that we want. But if they don't, they're not going to have a country." On the Strait: "We could close that up in two minutes. We could close that up so fast your head would spin."

On Gulf partners: "Saudi Arabia is fighting back hard. Qatar is fighting back. UAE is fighting back. Kuwait's fighting back. Bahrain's fighting back. They're all fighting back. We're in very strong communication with all of those countries."

Trump posted earlier: "Big day in Iran. Many long sought after targets have been taken out and destroyed by our GREAT MILITARY, the finest and most lethal in the World. God bless you all!"

Tehran Pushes Back

Iran's parliament is weighing withdrawal from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to the Tehran Times, citing the Foreign Minister. MP Malek Shariati confirmed a priority bill has been uploaded to the parliamentary portal. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the parliament's national security commission, said NPT membership "has had no benefit for us." The bill would revoke the law implementing nuclear restrictions from the 2015 JCPOA and support a new treaty with aligned countries including SCO and BRICS members. Any bill passed by parliament must also clear the Guardian Council before implementation.

The Iranian Armed Forces (Khatam al-Anbiya) spokesman announced they will begin targeting the homes of American and Israeli commanders and political officials in the region and in Israel, in response to strikes on residential areas in Iran.

Iranian state media announced Majid Ebn Reza as the new head of Iran's Ministry of Intelligence, replacing Esmail Khatib after Israel eliminated him.

The Iranian Armed Forces spokesman accused Israel of attacking water desalination facilities in Kuwait, claiming Tel Aviv is trying to blame Tehran. Saudi Arabia condemned what it called Iranian strikes on a Kuwaiti military camp and critical power facility. Kuwait's Ministry of Electricity confirmed a service building at a power and water desalination plant was hit, killing an Indian worker.

40 Sites Down, Buffer Zone Expands

The Tabriz petrochemical complex, the largest industrial facility of its kind in northwest Iran, is gone. The IDF struck around 40 research and production facilities linked to Iranian weapons programs over the past two days. The IRGC's Imam Hossein University in Tehran, a core military and R&D hub operating under civilian cover, took a direct hit. The IDF released footage showing wind tunnels used for ballistic missile testing have been completely destroyed.

CENTCOM (U.S. Central Command) commander Admiral Brad Cooper visited Israel, meeting IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir. Discussions focused on the joint campaign against Iranian weapons production. The IDF expects to complete targeting of critical Iranian military production assets within days. Speculation is growing that this could point to a joint special forces operation.

The IDF is expanding its buffer zone in southern Lebanon to the Litani River, roughly 20 to 30 km north of the Israel-Lebanon border. That covers 950 square kilometers, nearly 10% of Lebanon. PM Netanyahu ordered the expansion. An additional IDF division has been deployed.

The IRGC confirmed, four days after the fact, that Naval Commander Ali Reza Tangsiri was killed in an Israeli strike in Bandar Abbas. He was the senior Iranian official responsible for the Strait of Hormuz. IRGC Navy intelligence chief Behnam Rezaei was killed in the same strike.

Spain Shuts the Door

Spain closed its airspace to U.S. planes involved in the Iran conflict, forcing reroutes around the country. Emergency flights remain exempted. Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed: "Neither the bases are authorised, nor, of course, is the use of Spanish airspace authorised for any action related to the war in Iran." The ban expanded earlier restrictions on Morón Air Base and Rota Naval Station to all Spanish airspace. Trump had previously threatened to cut off all trade with Spain after Madrid refused use of its bases.

Trump is talking to what he calls a "new regime" while the IDF systematically destroys Iran's military infrastructure. Iran rejected the deal and is weighing leaving the NPT. The Strait of Hormuz remains the leverage point. Two Chinese-owned cargo vessels transited today (March 30), the first major container ships since the conflict began.