Iran 'All Hardliners Over There', Says Michael Allen

Michael Allen, a former White House adviser in the Bush administration, said Iran still appears to be in the hands of a hardliners which could mean a more drawn-out conflict and make striking a deal difficult.

US President Donald Trump repeated threats to destroy Iranian energy assets if the Strait of Hormuz isn’t reopened soon, raising fears the war could escalate after more American troops arrived in the region.

The US “is in serious discussions” with what he called a new regime in Iran to end military operations, Trump said in a social-media post on Monday. But if a deal isn’t reached and Hormuz reopened, “we will conclude our lovely “stay” in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating all of their Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalinization plants!).”  The White House threatened further escalation of attacks on Iran, including critical civilian energy infrastructure, as the fifth week of war jolts global markets with little sign of relief.

President Donald Trump earlier on Monday posted on social media that if Tehran doesn’t re-open the Strait of Hormuz, “we will conclude our lovely ‘stay’ in Iran by blowing up and completely obliterating” electricity plants, oil facilities and “possibly” desalination infrastructure.

Trump has regularly vacillated between saying a deal with Iran is imminent and warning he’s prepared to increase the military tempo. The threat to water facilities would constitute a war crime as defined by the Geneva Conventions.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the US is “conducting more intense, targeted strikes with devastating combat power with each passing day” and the US operations are proceeding “according to plan,” even as she echoed the president in saying talks are on track. The administration hasn’t identified which Iranian officials it’s dealing with, directly or indirectly.

Despite the mystery surrounding peace talks, Leavitt said the Iranians were “increasingly eager” to negotiate and agreed to “some of the points” that the US has put forward to end the conflict. Iran has consistently said peace talks aren’t progressing and has signaled it can carry on fighting for much longer.

“These folks are appearing more reasonable behind the scenes,” Leavitt added.

The back-and-forth on negotiations happened as Israel and Iran exchanged missile strikes. The conflict is threatening to cause severe economic damage around the world, with the near-closure of the critical Hormuz waterway choking supplies of energy, fertilizer and other critical commodities.

Oil prices rose again on Monday with US crude futures ending the session above $100 a barrel for the first time since 2022. The key psychological threshold was breached as the national average pump price for gasoline also nears $4 a gallon.

The most active Brent crude futures contract settled above $112 a barrel and the international benchmark is on track for a record monthly percentage gain. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told Fox News the US is “going to retake control” of Hormuz, ensuring safe navigation “through US escorts or a multinational escort.” The US announced such a plan in the early days of the war, though it hasn’t yet been executed.

Iran’s parliament approved legislation to impose fees in the strait, according to the semi-official Fars news agency.

Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi on Monday issued an appeal to Trump to end the conflict, saying only the US president is capable of doing so. He warned of the dangers of rising energy prices on the economies of developing nations and political stability. Egypt is, along with Pakistan and Turkey, trying to mediate between Iran and the US. The US military said over the weekend that about 3,500 sailors and Marines have arrived in the Middle East on an amphibious assault ship. The Tripoli Amphibious Ready Group is also carrying fighter aircraft.

The Israel Defense Forces said it’s carrying out airstrikes on Iran a day after attacks resulted in power outages in Tehran and nearby areas.

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