Trump says Iranians "willing to suffer" as he defends strike threats

On April 6, President Donald Trump said that the Iranian population would be “willing to suffer” from potential US strikes on civilian energy and infrastructure if it ultimately led to greater freedom, as he defended his administration’s escalating rhetoric towards Iran, US media reports.

Asked whether targeting such sites would amount to punishing civilians, Trump replied: “It’s suffering. They would be willing to suffer that in order to have freedom.”

He further claimed that some Iranians support continued US military action. “We’ve had numerous intercepts, ‘Please keep bombing.’ Bombs that are dropping near their homes, ‘Please keep bombing. Do it.’ And these are people that are living where the bombs are exploding. And when we leave and we’re not hitting those areas, they’re saying, ‘Please come back, come back, come back.’”

The remarks come amid mounting criticism that Trump’s earlier pledge to “blow up” Iranian energy facilities, bridges and desalination plants could constitute violations of international law.

Moreover, Trump has given Tehran a deadline of 8 p.m. Eastern Time on April 7 to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face further action.

“All I can tell you is they want freedom. They have lived in a world that you know nothing about. It’s a violent, horrible world,” he said.

Over the weekend, Trump reiterated that Iran had until the same deadline to reach a deal with Washington.

In a separate line of argument, Trump suggested that the United States — rather than Iran — should impose tolls on vessels passing through the strategically vital waterway.

“What about us charging tolls?” he said. “I’d rather do that than let them have them.”

Iran has recently moved to assert control over the route, approving a plan to introduce charges for tankers transiting the strait and reinforcing what it described as its sovereign role.

Trump argued that Washington would be justified in collecting such tolls, citing US military success in the confrontation.

“Why shouldn’t we? We’re the winner,” he said. “We won. OK? They are militarily defeated.”

By Aghakazim Guliyev