Washington: US President Donald Trump issued a severe ultimatum to Tehran on Monday, threatening the total destruction of Iran’s primary oil export hub at Kharg Island, along with its power grid and oil fields, if a diplomatic resolution to the monthlong war is not reached immediately.

The shift in rhetoric came just 24 hours after the president adopted a more conciliatory tone, suggesting a peace treaty could be finalised as early as this week. Writing on his Truth Social network, Trump claimed that the United States is currently engaged in "serious discussions" with what he characterised as "a more reasonable regime" in the Iranian capital.

Despite the reported progress, the president included a stark warning regarding the consequences of a diplomatic failure.

"Great progress has been made but, if for any reason a deal is not shortly reached, which it probably will be, and if the Hormuz Strait is not immediately 'Open for Business,' we will conclude our lovely 'stay' in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!), which we have purposefully not yet 'touched,'" Trump stated.

Claims of "Regime Change"

On Sunday night, while travelling aboard Air Force One, the president told reporters that the military campaign launched a month ago alongside Israel had already achieved "regime change" by neutralising a significant portion of Iran's previous leadership. He argued that the current figures in power represent a departure from the traditional hardline establishment.

"We're dealing with different people than anybody's dealt with before. It's a whole different group of people. So I would consider that regime change," the president observed.

When pressed on the timeline for a formal cessation of hostilities, Trump remained optimistic. "I do see a deal in Iran. Could be soon," he noted.

The Strategic Stakes

The threat to Kharg Island is particularly significant, as the facility handles the vast majority of Iran's crude oil exports. Targeting the country's desalination plants would also represent a major escalation, potentially depriving millions of civilians of drinking water.

The administration continues to demand the immediate and unconditional reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, a global energy chokepoint that has been largely impassable since the conflict began following the Feb. 28 strikes. While the president has extended his original deadline for compliance to April 6, his latest comments suggest that military patience is wearing thin.

With inputs from AFP