Washington: President Donald Trump said the United States would hit Iran “very hard” on Thursday night. He also threatened to seize key Iranian oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island.
Trump made the threat in a Truth Social post after another round of US strikes on Iranian targets. He said the United States would seek “total control” of Iran’s oil and gas markets in the “not too distant future.” Kharg Island is Iran’s main crude export terminal.
The island handled about 90% of Iran’s crude shipments before the war. Trump later told Fox News he was not sure whether America had the “stomach” to take Kharg Island.
He also said the United States was still holding talks with Iran. Trump compared the plan with US actions in Venezuela.
Trump has increased pressure on Tehran after accusing Iran of downing a US Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz.
Read: IRGC Launches Drone Attack on US Fifth Fleet in Bahrain
Iran has said it controls the Strait of Hormuz, a major route for oil exports from the Middle East. US Central Command denied Iran’s claim that it had blocked all ship traffic through the strait.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on X that damage caused by Iran against US allies would be paid for. He explained that funds extracted from Iranian accounts would be used for this purpose.
US strikes near Oman killed Indian sailors on the Settebello. Additionally, the strikes hit two other ships, Jalveer and Marivex, in the Gulf of Oman.
