Trump threatens to destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure if a deal is not reached 'shortly'

[Omaha Steve]

Source: AP

By JON GAMBRELL, JOSH BOAK and MIKE CORDER
Updated 10:00 AM CDT, March 30, 2026
Leer en español

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday threatened widespread destruction of Iran’s energy resources and other vital infrastructure, including desalination plants, if a deal to end the war is not reached “shortly.”

Tehran meanwhile struck a key water and electrical plant in Kuwait, and an oil refinery in Israel came under attack. Israel and the U.S. launched a new wave of strikes on Iran, as the war raged with no end in sight.

Trump’s new threat in a social media post and earlier comments in an interview with the Financial Times that suggested American troops could seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub highlighted a frequent tactic. He has repeatedly claimed to be making diplomatic progress— though Tehran denies negotiating directly — while ramping up his threats and sending thousands more U.S. troops to the Middle East.

It remains unclear where the diplomatic effort facilitated by Pakistan stands. Iran’s continuing attacks on its Gulf neighbors could further complicate any talks. The United Arab Emirates — which has long billed itself as a beacon of stability in a volatile region — has been hard hit in the war, and is signaling it wants Iran disarmed in any ceasefire. Iran’s theocracy likely won’t accept that.



Read more: https://apnews.com/article/iran-us-israel-trump-lebanon-march-30-2026-8abb0ee50be4cd8dd9ddde3a9d846ef8

[Historic NY]

1. Clear the way for the Trump Persia resort and casino

[Ray Bruns]

2. No one is negotiating. Trump is listening to the voices in his head again.

[Bayard]

3. He's talking to the paintings like Nixon

They're telling him to--Go get'em, Donnie!

[usonian]

17. The story is that Nixon talked to portraits of past presidents. Trump DEFACES them.

[vanessa_ca]

7. Correct

Link to tweet

[Irish_Dem]

4. The Trumpt Crime Syndicate wants Iran's oil and land.

[Attilatheblond]

5. Profoundly ignorant spoiled brat finding out not everyone can be bullied.

And he has depleted a huge amount of our military arsenal trying to bully a people that have been around a very long time and know things he will never acknowledge, let alone understand.

[Mysterian]

6. A war crime

I'm not proud to be an American anymore.

[muriel_volestrangler]

8. Indeed:

Yusra Suedi, assistant professor in international law at the University of Manchester, said Trump’s threat “reinforces the climate of impunity around collective punishment in warfare”.

“This is clearly an act of collective punishment, which is prohibited under international humanitarian law. You can’t deliberately harm an entire civilian population to pressure its government,” Suedi told Al Jazeera.
...
Raed Jarrar, advocacy director at the rights group DAWN, said Trump’s threats represent “clear, public evidence of criminal intent”.

“Threatening to obliterate a nation’s power grid, oil infrastructure and water supply to coerce its government is not a negotiating tactic; it is textbook collective punishment and a war crime,” Jarrar told Al Jazeera.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/3/30/trump-threatens-to-blow-up-all-desalination-plants-in-iran

[mdbl]

9. What an idiot. KIll the infastructure, leave the missiles destroying the Middle East.

Magats are the stupidest people on the planet.

[MissouriDem47]

10. Trump Is Called TACO

Trump is called TACO for a reason.

[Bengus81]

11. People were warned over and over not to vote for a fucking mad man twice

They did it anyway.

[orangecrush]

15. THIS

[lpbk2713]

12. And he'll take their lunch money.

[GB_RN]

13. Well, He's Making It Very Easy...

For a prosecution for war crimes at The Hague. All the evidence is right out there on his definitely-not-profitable, not-so-truthful, not-so-social social media platform.

[Talitha]

16. The Hague sounds good to me!

[Strelnikov_]

14. "(UAE) . . . signaling it wants Iran disarmed in any ceasefire"

Well, have at it, UAE.

[usonian]

18. destroy Iran's civilian infrastructure: Translation: war crimes

And it ain't even a war.

Genius! /s

[Intractable]

19. This is the way to get the Iranian people on our side. They will rise up against their government.

The reality is that the people will consider themselves under attack by the US and they will see their autocratic government as being the only defense from the US.