US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that the United States will hit Iran “very hard tonight” and take over the country’s energy resources, including the oil-rich Kharg Island.
“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 on Truth Social.
He further added that at some point in near future, the US will take over Kharg Island and other energy infrastructure of the country like Venezuela.
“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 said.
The warning from the US President comes hours after Iran announced closure of the Strait of Hormuz in response to US strikes.
Iran closes ‘Strait of Hormuz’
Earlier today, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps declared the Strait of Hormuz “closed to all vessels” after fresh US strikes on Iran.
The IRGC warned that any ship attempting to pass through the key waterway could be targeted, marking a sharp escalation in the confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
After weeks of a fragile ceasefire, tensions have escalated dramatically after Trump’s remarks at the White House, where he said the United States would resume attacks on Iran, accusing Tehran of delaying a deal with Washington.
He suggested that Iran’s downing of a US Apache helicopter had given Washington grounds for further military action. “Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do that,” he told reporters.
In response to US strikes, Iran retaliated by launching missiles on American targets in several Gulf countries, including Bahrain, Kuwait and Jordan.
Iranian media reported explosions in Sirik, Karaj and Abyek in Qazvin province, Al Jazeera reported.
Citing Iran’s IRGC, Al Jazeera further reported that 18 “important” US military-related sites had been targeted in response operations against American attacks. These included the Ali Al-Salem and Ahmed Al-Jaber bases in Kuwait, and Sheikh Isa Air Base in Bahrain.
Press TV also reported that IRGC Commander General Sayed Majid Mousavi warned the US, saying the region would be turned into “hell” if Washington continued to threaten the security of the Strait of Hormuz.