Trump Threatens Iran with New Attacks: “Maybe We’ll Even Seize Kharg Island”
Tensions between the United States and Iran have entered a new phase. Donald Trump, warning of fresh attacks on Iran, spoke of the possibility of targeting additional positions on Iranian soil and even seizing the strategic Kharg Island; remarks that coincide with escalating military clashes and uncertainty over the fate of negotiations between the two countries, heightening concerns about a broadening crisis in the Persian Gulf.
Donald Trump, the U.S. President, on Wednesday, July 8 (July 17 in the Persian calendar), ahead of a meeting with Vladimir Zelenskyy, President of Ukraine, warned that the American military may again strike targets in Iran.
Speaking to reporters, he said: “I just want to give a warning; we will hit them hard tonight.”
Trump also expressed doubt about the course of negotiations with Iran, stating: “I don’t know if we’re going to reach an agreement or not; maybe we’ll do it without an agreement altogether.”
These remarks came as the U.S. President had announced hours earlier that he considers the temporary agreement and ceasefire between Tehran and Washington to be over, and accused Iran of repeatedly violating its commitments.
Trump, referring to Kharg Island, Iran’s most important oil export terminal, said: “Maybe we’ll seize Kharg Island; there’s nothing they can do about it.”
He nonetheless emphasized that he has ordered American military forces not to target the oil facilities on the island. Kharg is considered Iran’s primary oil export hub and holds a strategic position in the country’s economy.
Concurrently with these remarks, Pete Hegseth, U.S. Secretary of Defense, announced that should the President issue orders, American forces are ready to carry out further attacks against targets deep within Iranian territory. Trump, elaborating on this, said: “Maybe we’ll reinstate a naval blockade of Iran again.”
The U.S. President further criticized the Islamic Republic’s conduct, stating: “They violate the agreement every day. They lie, they cheat, and they kill people.” In describing Islamic Republic officials, he added: “They’re crazy; I don’t want to deal with them anymore.”
Recent tensions escalated following attacks attributed to Iran on several commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States responded with a series of strikes against Iranian military targets, and Tehran retaliated by attacking American military bases in Bahrain and Kuwait. These developments have heightened concerns about the expansion of clashes in the region and their impact on energy security and the global oil market.
