Trump vows heavy strikes on Iran

Kharg island’s oil exports at centre of escalating tensions

The fragile ceasefire in the Middle East was shaken further on Thursday when President Donald Trump warned that the United States would unleash powerful strikes against Iran “very hard tonight.” His remarks, first posted on Truth Social and later repeated in a Fox News interview, signalled both immediate military escalation and a longer-term ambition to control Iran’s oil trade.

Trump insisted that Iran’s defences—its navy, air force, radar systems, and anti-aircraft units—had already been dismantled by earlier US operations. He pointed to Kharg Island, a small but strategically vital hub for Iran’s crude exports, as a future target. The island handles close to two million barrels of oil each day, much of it bound for China, making it the backbone of Iran’s energy economy. Trump compared his vision to Venezuela, where Washington has exerted influence over oil flows, and suggested that similar control of Iran’s resources would benefit the US.

His comments coincided with fresh fighting. American forces struck Iranian surveillance and communication networks, along with air defence sites, citing continued aggression from Tehran. Within hours, Iran retaliated. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced attacks on 18 US military positions across the Gulf, including bases in Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan, as well as the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet. These strikes underscored Iran’s ability to respond despite Trump’s claims of weakened defences.

Diplomatic channels remain open, though progress is slow. Sources familiar with ongoing talks say negotiators have reached a broad outline of an agreement but remain divided over key issues. Chief among them is Iran’s demand for access to billions of dollars in frozen assets held abroad. Tehran is pressing for between $6 billion and $12 billion, while Washington insists any release must be gradual and limited to humanitarian purposes. For Iran, unlocking funds appears to be a higher priority than a comprehensive settlement, with officials describing the conflict as militarily unsustainable.

As both sides escalate, Kharg Island has emerged as a symbol of the stakes involved—energy markets, regional stability, and global security. Whether diplomacy can outpace military action remains uncertain, but Trump’s threats and Iran’s counterstrikes highlight how quickly the situation could spiral into a wider war.