Trump Signals Continued Military Pressure on Iran Amid Fragile Negotiations Over Nuclear Deal and Oil Assets

U.S. President Donald Trump reiterates threats of sustained strikes and strategic pressure on Iran while diplomatic channels remain open over a tentative agreement involving frozen Iranian assets and regional de-escalation

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that the United States would continue carrying out airstrikes against Iran, marking what he described as a third consecutive night of military operations, while simultaneously floating the possibility of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical hub for the country’s oil infrastructure.

In his remarks, Trump suggested that Washington could, at a future stage, take control of the island and other strategic energy assets, although he later questioned whether the American public would support such an escalation. He also indicated that the operation would aim at exerting sustained pressure on Tehran as negotiations continue.

The statements came despite reports that diplomatic efforts between Washington and Tehran are still underway. According to a diplomatic source cited by CNN, discussions have continued even after two nights of U.S. strikes on Iranian targets and subsequent Iranian retaliatory drone and missile attacks against Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.

The escalation followed an incident earlier in the week in which an Iranian drone reportedly shot down a U.S. helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz, further intensifying tensions in one of the world’s most strategically sensitive maritime corridors.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote that the United States would “hit Iran… VERY HARD TONIGHT,” underscoring the administration’s continued reliance on military pressure alongside negotiations.

He further argued that Iran was close to reaching an agreement and described the country as suffering a “severe defeat,” while insisting that Tehran was already effectively weakened but “has not yet realized it.”

In a subsequent interview with Fox News, however, Trump appeared to temper his rhetoric, questioning domestic support for a potential seizure of Kharg Island. While reaffirming his preference for taking control of the strategic asset, he added that it was uncertain whether the United States “has the stomach” for such an operation and suggested that public opinion might favor disengagement.

The president also stated that the United States had held discussions with Iranian counterparts, while emphasizing that his preferred outcome would involve asserting control over key infrastructure sites.

At the same time, uncertainty persists over the actual scope and strategic intent of the military actions, with analysts questioning whether the threats and strikes form part of a broader coercive negotiation strategy aimed at extracting concessions from Tehran.

Trump has repeatedly issued and then adjusted similar threats in the past, contributing to ambiguity around the current trajectory of U.S. policy toward Iran.

On the diplomatic front, Iranian, European and American sources have confirmed to Reuters that negotiations over a preliminary framework agreement have intensified. The discussions reportedly include a memorandum of understanding and a phased mechanism for unfreezing Iranian financial assets held abroad.

One Iranian source said Tehran is seeking the release of between $6 billion and $12 billion in frozen funds, while Washington is reportedly advocating a staged release tied to humanitarian purchases, rather than a full return of assets.

A European official involved in the discussions said talks are now focused on technical parameters, particularly the amount of liquidity available to Iran under any interim arrangement.

A U.S. official familiar with the matter confirmed that indirect exchanges between the parties are ongoing, and that while a political understanding has been reached, the technical implementation of the frozen funds mechanism remains unresolved.

Additional discussions reportedly include phased access to the Strait of Hormuz, as well as the easing of restrictions on Iranian maritime activity, while more complex issues—such as uranium enrichment levels and stockpiles—are expected to be deferred to future negotiations.

Iranian sources described the current objective as a limited framework designed to relieve economic pressure and unlock frozen assets rather than a comprehensive settlement of outstanding disputes.

According to one source, the current conflict has reached a military stalemate, while diplomatic progress continues in parallel.

The White House and Iran’s foreign ministry have not issued immediate comments on the reported developments.

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