After tit-for-tat strikes in the Middle East that have undermined a shaky ceasefire, President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened new military strikes against Iran, saying the United States will hit the country "very hard tonight". He claimed Iran's military capabilities had already been severely weakened.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also said the US would move to seize control of major Iranian oil and gas facilities, including Kharg Island, in the future, much like it has done in Venezuela.
"The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT," Trump wrote.
"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, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America," he added.
Minutes after the post, he reiterated his desire to seize Kharg Island in an interview with Fox News. "We are talking to them and all, but you know, look, my preference has always been -- take Kharg Island ... My preference would be that. I don't know that America has the stomach for it."
Since the conflict began, Trump has repeatedly set his sights on Kharg Island, a small but strategically vital island. Kharg Island is the backbone of Iran's oil trade, handling the vast majority of the country's crude exports. Every day, around 2 million barrels of oil leave the small Gulf island, much of it bound for China. His comments came at a perilous moment in the conflict. Diplomacy is struggling to keep pace as fresh attacks by both sides push the region closer to a wider war.
Fighting continued across the region amid diplomatic contacts to establish peace.
The US carried out attacks across Iran on Thursday targeting Iranian surveillance systems, communication networks and air defence sites. The strikes followed what Washington described as continued Iranian aggression on Thursday. Trump also indicated that military operations could intensify if Tehran does not quickly accept American terms.
According to Fox News reporter Trey Yingst, Trump said the strikes would soon stop but warned that heavy bombing would resume if Iran's leaders failed to sign an agreement immediately.
Iran responded with attacks on American military facilities across the Gulf.
The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it launched strikes against 18 US military targets, including air bases in Kuwait and Bahrain and the US Navy's Fifth Fleet headquarters. Iranian forces also claimed responsibility for another missile attack on the al-Azraq air base in Jordan.
In an interview with Fox News, Trump said Washington and Tehran were still exchanging messages as they worked towards a preliminary agreement despite the escalating conflict.
According to Iranian and European sources cited by Reuters, negotiators have reached a broad understanding but remain divided over several key issues. One of the biggest sticking points is the release of billions of dollars in Iranian funds frozen in foreign banks.
Iran is reportedly seeking between $6 billion and $12 billion in frozen assets. Washington, however, wants any release of funds to take place in stages and be limited to humanitarian purposes. One Iranian source described the conflict as increasingly unsustainable.
"This war, from a military standpoint, is a dead end. The Americans could not achieve their goals by attacking Iran. There has been progress in negotiations," the source told Reuters.
For Tehran, securing access to frozen funds and bringing an end to the conflict appears to be a higher priority than reaching a broader settlement, according to people familiar with the talks.
Source: ANI