Donald Trump has announced that the US will seize Iran's oil and gas infrastructure and launch further strikes on Thursday night, because apparently a nominal ceasefire is just a suggestion. In a post on Truth Social, Trump declared the US would hit Iran “VERY HARD, TONIGHT,” claiming most of Iran's offensive capacity was already rubble. He also floated the idea of taking Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran's oil exports, because why not add an island heist to the evening's agenda?
Trump wrote: “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 later walked that back slightly on Fox News, admitting he didn't know if “America has the stomach for it” and that he'd rather not hit Iranian bridges and power plants, despite threatening to do so earlier. Analysts note that taking Kharg would require boots on the ground, exposing US soldiers to Iranian attacks - an inconvenient detail.
Iran's response came from Ebrahim Azizi, head of the parliament's national security commission, who warned Trump would get a “stronger and more painful response” if he made any “uncalculated” moves. The two countries have traded strikes for two consecutive days, triggered by the downing of a US helicopter above the Strait of Hormuz. The ceasefire, established in early April, has been undermined by sporadic retaliatory strikes, with each side accusing the other of violating the temporary truce.
Trump said Thursday's assault was prompted by Iran stalling in negotiations to turn the temporary ceasefire into a permanent peace. The most intense strikes yet hit what the US described as “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air-defence sites across Iran.” The US military also claimed it struck an oil tanker near the Strait of Hormuz attempting to breach a blockade, firing Hellfire missiles at the vessel. An Indian official said a US strike killed three Indian crew members on a ship, though it's unclear if it was the same one.
Iran launched missiles and drones at Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan on Thursday, as it had the previous morning. Bahrain's interior ministry reported an 11-year-old girl injured, with homes and vehicles damaged by falling debris from interceptions. Despite the fireworks, Iranian officials told Reuters that talks on a preliminary deal had intensified, with both sides exchanging messages on a memorandum of understanding. Significant obstacles remain, including how to unfreeze billions of dollars in Iranian assets.
“This war, from a military standpoint, is a dead end,” one Iranian source told Reuters. “The Americans could not achieve their goals by attacking Iran. There has been progress in negotiations.” The mechanism for releasing frozen Iranian funds is a sticking point: Iran wants the money released all at once directly to Tehran, while the US prefers a phased approach focused on humanitarian goods. Unfreezing the funds and creating broader economic relief is the priority, not an all-encompassing settlement.
Other unresolved issues include the conflict in Lebanon, which Iran insists must be part of any ceasefire framework. Israeli strikes there have reportedly killed more than 3,600 people, while Hezbollah attacks have killed at least 30 Israeli soldiers and civilians. Trump wants Iran to end restrictions on shipping through the Strait of Hormuz and guarantee it won't develop a nuclear weapon - something Tehran has long denied pursuing. Iran tightened control over the strait after Wednesday's attacks, warning ships to be patient. The strait handles about 20% of the world's oil supply, and its closure has sent energy prices and inflation soaring. The US military denied the strait was closed or its ships attacked, insisting vessels were still moving through.
Trump is seeking a deal with Iran as the conflict becomes increasingly unpopular in the US. He faces midterm elections, rising inflation, and plummeting approval ratings - because nothing says “re-election campaign” like a potential island invasion.