U.S.-Iran tensions rise as Trump issues threats and military moves accelerate
Huo Xing Finance reports that developments in the U.S.-Iran confrontation as of April 6 include the following.
United States: President Donald Trump appears to have pushed his ultimatum deadline to 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on April 7 (8:00 a.m. Beijing time on Wednesday). On April 5, Trump wrote on social media that the U.S. would bomb Iran's power plants and bridges on April 7. U.S. media reported that more than 1,000 U.S. troops had been evacuated from Bahrain. U.S. media also said the rescued American pilot has been transferred to Kuwait. Trump said he believes an agreement with Iran could be reached before April 6 and that he will hold a press conference with U.S. military officials on the afternoon of April 6. Some U.S. officials said the conflict could enter a second phase, with Iran's power plants and bridges designated as "legitimate military targets." Sources said the CIA ran a deception campaign ahead of a high-risk rescue operation inside Iran. Trump said that if no agreement is reached, he will "destroy the entirety of Iran"; he added that there is no need to deploy ground forces at present, but the option cannot be ruled out.
Iran: Iran's foreign minister held a phone call with Pakistan's foreign minister to exchange views on regional developments. Iran said it would respond in kind to any attacks on its infrastructure. Iran's military said it carried out drone strikes on Israeli and U.S. military targets in Kuwait. Iran announced strikes on petrochemical and energy facilities across multiple Gulf countries and warned of further actions targeting U.S. interests. Iran claimed it used cruise missiles to attack Israeli vessels near Jebel Ali Port in the UAE. Iranian media reported that a U.S. rescue operation killed five Iranians and wounded eight, and that multiple U.S. soldiers were killed during the operation. An Iranian official proposed conditions for opening the Strait of Hormuz, calling for compensation for Iran's war losses through tolls on passing ships.
Israel: Israel said it killed the commercial director of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' oil headquarters. Sources said Israel and the U.S. have finalized a comprehensive list of strategic objectives. Israel's chief of staff pledged to intensify strikes on Hezbollah, naming Hezbollah's disarmament as the primary war objective. Israeli media reported that Israel views the odds of an agreement with Iran as very low and is preparing for potential large-scale strikes on Iran's energy infrastructure.
Strait of Hormuz and regional chokepoints: Iran's parliament is reviewing a management plan for the Strait of Hormuz. Oil tankers carrying Iraqi crude have transited the strait. U.S. media said the speaker of Iran's parliament appeared to threaten to shut down shipping through the Bab el-Mandeb Strait. Oman and Iran held a deputy minister-level meeting on ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's supreme leader said the strategic leverage of blocking the Strait of Hormuz must be continuously maintained. Reports said that within 24 hours of receiving Iranian approval, 15 vessels passed through the strait.
