US President Donald Trump announced a major military strike on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, stating that all military targets had been destroyed.
Trump warned that Iran’s oil facilities could be targeted if there is any threat to the free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
Posting on his social platform Truth Social shortly after boarding Air Force One, Trump said the United States Central Command had conducted “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East.”
He emphasized that every military target on Kharg Island, which is Iran’s primary oil-export hub, was “totally obliterated.”
Trump made it clear that the strike deliberately avoided Iran’s oil infrastructure.
He added, however, that if Iran or any other actor interferes with the free and safe passage of ships in the Strait of Hormuz, the decision could be reconsidered.
“I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships… I will immediately reconsider this decision,” the president said.
Calls for Iran to surrender
Trump urged Iran to “lay down its weapons” and warned the country to “save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much.”
He said the United States holds “a position of dominance that nobody’s ever seen before” and reiterated that Iran’s navy, air force, and major military capabilities have been decimated.
When asked by reporters about the expected duration of the conflict, Trump declined to provide a timeline.
“I can’t tell you that. It’ll be as long as it’s necessary. They’ve been decimated,” he said, adding that an unconditional Iranian surrender would end the war.
Trump also noted that his objectives might differ slightly from those of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli Prime Minister, but stressed the unparalleled power of the US military in the region.
Strategic importance of Kharg Island
Kharg Island is critical to global oil markets, with around 90% of Iran’s oil exports passing through it.
While the recent strike targeted military installations only, any escalation to oil facilities could have significant regional and global economic implications.
