Four-day deadline for executions – “unleashing hell”
Updated 01.07 | Published 00.04
Four-day deadline.
Then the top names could be back on the death list – and “hell could be unleashed”.
At the same time, Iran is preparing for a decisive battle over the important island.
The clock is ticking for a peace settlement in the Iran war.
The White House increased the stakes on Wednesday by saying that Donald Trump is prepared to “unleashing hell”.
Deadline from the death list
– If Iran does not accept the current reality, if they do not understand that they have been defeated militarily and will continue to be, President Trump will ensure that they are attacked harder than they have ever been attacked before, says press secretary Karoline Leavitt at a press conference.
To further put pressure on Iran, sources in the White House say that the US and Israel have temporarily removed two names, Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, from the list of intended attack targets, writes the Wall Street Journal.
If no progress is made in peace negotiations within four to five days, they will be back on the death list.
– We killed their entire leadership. Then they met to choose new leaders. And then we killed them all, Trump said on Tuesday.
Waiting for invasion
– Now we have a new group and we can easily do it again. But let's see what happens.
Amid the tense situation, Iran says that it suspects that "Iran's enemies, with the help of one of the countries in the region, are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands".
The island of Kharg is Iran's most important oil export hub.
It is probably the strategically important island of Kharg, through which 90 percent of Iran's oil exports pass, that is meant, writes CNN.
"All enemy movements are under complete surveillance by our armed forces. If they cross the border, all the vital infrastructure of the regional state, without any restrictions, will be the target of relentless attacks," writes Iranian President Ghalibaf in a warning on X.
According to US intelligence, Iran has recently buried mines on Kharg, increased the number of soldiers defending the island and moved missile systems there, writes CNN.
The armament is being done to be prepared for a US ground invasion of the island.
Elite force on the way
The Pentagon confirmed on Wednesday that parts of the 82nd Airborne Division and the 1st Brigade Combat Team will be sent to the Middle East, writes the BBC.
The 82nd Airborne Division, which is based in North Carolina, is considered one of the military's top conventional combat units, with some units always ready to be deployed anywhere in the world within 18 hours, the British television channel reports.
The Pentagon confirms that parts of the 82nd Airborne Division will be sent to the Middle East. Photo: Nathan Posner / AP
The troops are trained to enter an area by parachute or helicopter and take control of it.
The 1st Brigade Combat Team is based in New York and is fully equipped for prolonged combat, writes the BBC.
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi said on Wednesday evening that no negotiations are currently underway between Tehran and Washington, writes The Guardian.
Iran's demands on Hezbollah
The foreign minister stated that Iran's top leadership is currently reviewing the peace proposals that have
Araghchi also says that the United States has failed to secure a quick military victory and achieve regime change.
On Tuesday, the White House said that it had sent a 15-point peace plan to Iran.
According to Reuters, Iran has told mediators that a ceasefire in the war must include Lebanon and that Israel must stop attacking Hezbollah.
"Are afraid"
Sources to Reuters say that Iran has given Hezbollah guarantees that the group will be included in a peace settlement.
President Trump said in a speech Wednesday night that Iranian leaders are too afraid to admit they are negotiating with the United States.
“They really want to make a deal, but they are afraid to admit it because they think they will be killed by their own people,” he said.
