Arabic version: إنذار ترامب لإيران يواجه تحديات الجدوى العسكرية
President Donald Trump’s ultimatum to Iran, threatening to destroy much of the country’s civilian infrastructure if a deal is not reached by 20:00 EST (00:00 GMT Wednesday), has raised significant concerns among military experts. According to BBC News, analysts warn that the threats are not only unprecedented but also impractical, given the vastness of Iran and the complexity of its infrastructure.
Trump’s threats escalated over the past days, with the president vowing to obliterate every bridge and power station in Iran within a mere four hours. Experts argue that such an operation would be nearly impossible to execute effectively in that timeframe. Iran, being roughly one-third the size of the continental United States, presents a significant challenge for any military action aimed at widespread destruction.
Military analysts suggest that while targeting Iran’s power sector could be feasible, the idea of eliminating all bridges is unrealistic. Most of Iran’s power plants are concentrated in three coastal provinces – Bushehr, Khuzestan and Hormozgan – and attacks on these facilities could severely impact the Iranian regime’s access to oil revenue and strategic waterways.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has urged Trump to extend the deadline for negotiations by two weeks, hoping to facilitate a diplomatic resolution. The White House has acknowledged the proposal, indicating that a response will be forthcoming. As negotiations continue, Vice-President JD Vance confirmed that the US conducted airstrikes on military targets on Kharg Island, emphasizing that the US retains options for further action if necessary.
Despite the threats of military action, experts believe that Iran’s leadership is unlikely to be swayed by such tactics, as they view the current conflict as an existential struggle. The situation remains tense as US and Iranian officials engage in direct talks, but significant gaps in their positions on key issues persist.
