Pentagon prepares plans targeting energy infrastructure in Iran

The Pentagon has prepared a range of military plans should Trump authorise additional strikes, including attacks targeting Iranian energy and infrastructure facilities, CNN reports.

According to a source, US President Donald Trump met senior members of his national security team on May 16 to discuss the next steps in the conflict involving Iran.

The meeting came a day before Trump warned Tehran to act quickly or face severe consequences.

“For Iran, the clock is ticking, and they better get moving, FAST, or there won’t be anything left of them. TIME IS OF THE ESSENCE!” Trump wrote on social media on May 17.

The discussions reportedly took place shortly after Trump returned to Washington following a high-level visit to China, which maintains close ties with Iran.

Trump has become increasingly frustrated with Tehran’s handling of diplomatic negotiations, as well as the continued closure of the Strait of Hormuz and its impact on global oil prices.

Meanwhile, there were no signs from Tehran that senior Iranian officials were prepared to soften their position.

Iranian officials accused the United States of contributing to instability in the Middle East.

According to the Iran-linked Tasnim News Agency, Masoud Pezeshkian said the US and Israel “have always tried to pit Islamic nations against one another through divisive projects and by fostering distrust”, while insisting that Iran seeks “sincere, stable relations based on good neighborliness” with regional Islamic countries.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov