US President Donald Trump on Tuesday rejected reports that he is trying to force Iran to resume talks with the US.
"I’m not trying to force Iran to the bargaining table, as ABC Fake News reported. I couldn’t care less if they sign a worthless, to them, agreement. I like our position now much better, with almost total control of the Hormuz Strait, and their economy totally collapsing," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
He added, "They are just playing out the inevitable. When are the Iranian people going to rise up and fight?"
The post followed the launch of US strikes against IRGC targets in Iran. Initial reports said Qeshm Island and Chabahar were among the areas targeted, with explosions reported at both locations.
US Central Command (CENTCOM) announced that its forces successfully completed the wave of strikes against Iranian military targets.
“US forces struck Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets including air defense sites, radar systems, maritime assets and facilities, mine laying capabilities, and communications sites," it said.
“The strikes follow recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members," added CENTCOM.
Trump said earlier that the American strikes were carried out in response to Iranian activity in the Strait of Hormuz and an earlier missile attack against a US military base in Jordan, warning Iran of more powerful strikes if it retaliated.
"The United States is, as we speak, striking Iranian Targets near the Strait of Hormuz. The strikes are large and powerful, and in retaliation for the Iranians’ failed attempt at adding sea mines to the Strait, which currently has no mines (They have been completely removed or detonated!), and the Iranians shooting eight missiles, all successfully knocked down, at our Military Base in Jordan," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
"If the failed Nation of Iran retaliates for this very justified attack, they will be hit again at a much harder and higher level, but it will not be the biggest attack of them all, that is waiting in the wings and, when it is over, there will be very little left of the Islamic Republic of Iran!" he added.