While US President Donald Trump makes bold new threats to Iran that risk ending the ceasefire and resuming full-scale war, the White House harbours concerns about hard constraints. On Thursday, Trump indicated a major escalation in confrontation with Tehran, saying the US would hit Iran “very hard” and warning that it could eventually take control of key Iranian oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island. Trump said, “United States will be hitting Iran very hard tonight” and added that “At some point in not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their oil and gas markets.”
The comments reflect growing frustration inside the White House over what Trump sees as Iran’s repeated delays in reaching a deal with the US. Yet as the administration signals readiness for a more aggressive military campaign, a less visible constraint is increasingly coming into focus -- America’s capacity to sustain a heavy bombing campaign for weeks.
