US President Donald Trump has warned that the United States will strike Iran “very hard tonight”, marking what would be the third consecutive night of attacks amid an intensifying conflict in West Asia. In a series of posts, Trump claimed Iran’s military defences were “gone” and suggested Washington was preparing to take control of Kharg Island, Iran’s most critical oil‑export hub.
Trump said the US would eventually seize Kharg Island and other energy infrastructure, comparing the strategy to what he described as successful American policy in Venezuela. Analysts noted that such a move would represent an unprecedented escalation, as Kharg handles the vast majority of Iran’s crude exports and sits near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil shipments.
The President did not explain how the US would take control of Iranian territory, but defence experts cited by AFP said any such attempt would likely require deployment of ground forces, a step that would dramatically widen the conflict.
Trump’s latest warning follows a similar threat issued the previous night, part of a pattern of increasingly aggressive rhetoric since the US‑Israel war in Iran began on 28 February. Washington has argued that Iran’s military capabilities have been severely degraded, while Tehran has accused the US of violating international law and destabilising the region.
The situation has rattled global energy markets, with fears that further strikes or attempts to seize Iranian oil infrastructure could disrupt supply chains. Kharg Island’s location — northwest of the Strait of Hormuz — makes it central to Iran’s economic survival and a potential flashpoint for broader confrontation.
The conflict remains volatile, with no sign of diplomatic de‑escalation.