President Donald Trump said the U.S. will press ahead with more strikes against Iran on Thursday as diplomatic efforts appear to have stalled and tensions in the Middle East continue to spiral.
“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 warned in a post Thursday.
The president also floated a dramatic escalation involving Kharg Island, a strategic hub for the Iranian regime’s oil industry.
“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 wrote.
Kharg Island is one of Iran’s most important oil export centers and has previously been targeted by U.S. military strikes. The island’s infrastructure has suffered damage in earlier attacks, though American forces have not attempted to seize the territory.
Speaking during a Thursday morning appearance on Fox News, Trump indicated that additional bombing runs were coming later in the day and suggested they would be larger than previous operations.
“There will be more bombing tonight. It will be bigger – bigger, more powerful,” Trump said. He added that his long-term preference had been to take control of Kharg Island, though he questioned whether Americans would support such a move.
Despite the military escalation, Trump said talks with Tehran have not completely collapsed and confirmed that U.S. officials remain engaged with Iranian negotiators.
The president also lashed out at coverage of the conflict, arguing that favorable headlines have emboldened Iranian leaders. Trump claimed regime officials have privately expressed surprise over how positively they have been portrayed in the media.
Minutes after announcing fresh strikes, Trump used the Fox News interview to praise chief foreign correspondent Trey Yingst for his reporting from the region.
The latest developments come after several days of back-and-forth attacks between Washington and Tehran, raising fears that the conflict could expand into a broader regional war.
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