MOSCOW, July 17. /TASS/. Donald Trump is reportedly considering broadening the US military operation in Iran to tighten control over the Strait of Hormuz; a proposed US sanctions bill would grant the president broad powers to target buyers of Russian oil and gas; and Russia’s IT sector continues to expand, led by software development, AI, and cybersecurity. These stories topped Friday’s newspaper headlines across Russia.
Izvestia: Trump reportedly weighs broadening military operation in Iran to tighten control over Strait of Hormuz
Control of the Strait of Hormuz is emerging as the primary objective of the US campaign in Iran. According to The Wall Street Journal, following a meeting with his advisers, US President Donald Trump is increasingly leaning toward expanding the bombing campaign and even deploying ground forces to seize the islands of Khark, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb. Washington reportedly views these territories as the key to the world’s vital oil artery, through which one-fifth of global crude oil exports pass, Izvestia writes.
In addition, the administration is discussing bombing the Pickaxe Mountain tunnel complex using heavy bunker-buster bombs to prevent the establishment of an operational nuclear facility there.
