Trump threatens Iran with major strikes and warns of potential control of oil infrastructure as regional conflict escalates
President Donald Trump said Thursday that the United States would strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT,” escalating already heightened tensions as both sides continue exchanging attacks across the region. In a social media post, Trump also threatened to “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas infrastructure, including the key Kharg Island export terminal, describing potential action “in the not too distant future.”
The warning came as U.S. and Iranian forces traded fire for a second straight day, marking the third major escalation in less than a week following earlier clashes involving Iran, Israel, and U.S. forces stationed across multiple countries. The ongoing exchanges have pushed the region closer to a wider conflict, while diplomatic efforts appear increasingly strained.
Trump said Iran would “pay the price” for stalled negotiations, while Iranian officials accused the U.S. of undermining any chance of a ceasefire through continued military action. The president also addressed the conflict in a morning television appearance, rejecting claims of frustration while criticizing how the situation has been portrayed publicly, saying potential agreements were being misrepresented despite what he described as military pressure on Iran.
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for strikes on 18 U.S. targets across the region, including sites in Kuwait and Bahrain, framing the attacks as retaliation for earlier U.S. operations against Iranian military infrastructure. Iranian officials at the United Nations urged restraint, warning that continued threats would only deepen the crisis and insisting Iran would continue to act in self-defense if necessary.
The conflict has also drawn in maritime security operations, with U.S. forces continuing actions in regional waters, including disabling vessels in the Gulf of Oman and redirecting or inspecting ships as part of an ongoing enforcement effort. Officials said these measures are intended to restrict non-compliant shipping while allowing humanitarian traffic to pass.
The latest threats and counterstrikes underscore the rapid escalation of the conflict, even as previous military actions were described as completed operations. Further exchanges now appear likely as both sides continue signaling readiness for additional action.
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