Trump Threatens Iran; Tehran Fortifies for Ground War

Iran is reinforcing key energy infrastructure, including Kharg Island, boosting missile defenses, laying coastal mines, and expanding underground tunnel networks, according to the Wall Street Journal. Tehran is preparing for a prolonged conflict, deploying wire-guided drones and ramping up recruitment campaigns reminiscent of the Iran-Iraq war.

President Trump, in Truth Social posts, warned of further military escalation, threatening to target Iranian infrastructure like bridges and power plants, and stated the US can "reopen the Strait of Hormuz, take the oil, & make a fortune." These actions signal a potential for broader attacks on critical facilities and a shift towards intensifying pressure for rapid political change in Tehran, with officials warning of expanded strikes across the Gulf if its territory is attacked. The conflict, now five weeks old, continues to destabilize the region and rattle financial markets, with crude oil (CL) down 0.40%.