US President Donald Trump has announced that the United States will hit Iran "very hard" tonight, signaling a further escalation in tensions despite ongoing talks between Washington and Tehran.
In a series of statements, Trump said the US could take control of Iran’s key oil infrastructure, including Kharg Island, while also claiming that Iran’s military capabilities have already been severely weakened.
Posting on the Truth Social platform, Trump said the United States plans to target Kharg Island and other oil infrastructure sites in Iran.
“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela,” Trump said.
The US president also repeated his claim that the Iranian armed forces have been effectively destroyed.
Trump described Kharg Island as a priority in Washington’s strategy toward Iran.
He acknowledged concerns about the feasibility of such a move, saying he had doubts about US readiness for a Kharg Island operation. However, he indicated that taking control of Iranian oil facilities remains under consideration.
The president added that future US policy toward Iran could mirror the approach Washington has taken toward Venezuela’s energy sector.
Trump says effort to arm Iranian opposition failed
During an interview on Fox & Friends, Trump confirmed that the United States attempted to deliver weapons to groups opposed to the Iranian government in an effort to help overthrow the regime in Tehran.
According to Trump, the weapons were provided to Kurdish groups that are adversaries of Iran.
However, he claimed the plan failed because the weapons were allegedly not distributed as intended.
“The Kurds let us down,” Trump said, adding that he had initially opposed the plan because he believed the weapons would be kept rather than shared.Trump also criticized media reporting on the conflict with Iran during the same interview.
He argued that coverage of the war has not reflected developments on the ground and claimed that even Iranian officials were surprised by how events were being portrayed in the media.
The president separately praised Fox News foreign correspondent Trey Yingst for his reporting.
US-Iran talks continue despite escalation
Despite the increasingly aggressive rhetoric, Trump said the United States remains engaged in talks with Iran.
His comments came shortly after announcing plans for additional airstrikes against Iranian targets.
The continuation of diplomatic discussions suggests that military pressure and negotiations are proceeding simultaneously.
New developments across the region
Amid rising tensions, Iranian state media reported sounds of explosions in Sirik.
Separately, the Persian Gulf Authority announced the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world's most important energy shipping routes.
Meanwhile, US Vice President JD Vance emphasized that American interests take precedence over Israel’s interests when it comes to Washington’s policy decisions.
Away from the Middle East conflict, Pakistan’s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb presented the country's economic survey to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif.
According to the survey, economic growth stood at 3.7%, below the official target of 4.2%.
The report also showed imports at $63 billion against a target of $65.2 billion, while exports reached $28 billion compared with a target of $35.3 billion.
