Iran Will Be Hit...'Very Hard Tonight': Trump Warns of Imminent Strikes, Outlines Plans To Seize Kharg Island Oil Hub

Washington: In a dramatic escalation, US President Donald Trump on Thursday reiterated his warning that the United States would strike Iran "very hard" amid ongoing diplomatic efforts to finalise a peace deal with the Islamic Republic, adding that the strikes are planned for "tonight".

In a post on Truth Social, the US President stated that Washington, in the not-so-"distant future, will take control of Iran's Kharg Island, which functions as the main terminal for almost all of its oil exports and other oil infrastructure, aiming to dominate Tehran's oil and gas markets.

He drew a comparison with Venezuela, stating that US control of its oil resources has worked "brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America".

He also reiterated his claims that Iran's Navy, Air Force, radar, anti-aircraft, and most offensive capabilities are gone.

"The United States will be hitting Iran (whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti-Aircraft, and all other forms of Defence, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT. 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," the post read.

Trump Signals Imminent Strikes 

The President's statement painted a picture of absolute operational dominance, asserting that Iran's Navy, Air Force, radar systems, and anti-aircraft defences are "GONE!" 

He used this assessment of a degraded Iranian military to justify an aggressive new posture, warning of direct kinetic action while explicitly outlining long-term ambitions to dictate regional energy markets.  

"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," President Trump declared. 

The President drew a direct parallel to U.S. policy regarding Caracas, claiming the strategy would mimic actions taken with Venezuela, which he described as "working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America."

Us Administration Echoes Trump's Message

Minutes after Trump's message on social media, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also put out a post on X threatening Iran. 

His post read, "The Iranian regime will lose the zero-sum game it is playing.

Any damage it inflicts on our allies in the Gulf will be paid for with funds extracted from Iranian Accounts.

Any tolls paid to the Persian Gulf Strait Authority will be offset by funds extracted from their accounts.

Every attack Iran launches will only deepen the economic and financial consequences it faces."

Trump on Wednesday had stated that the US would resume attacks on Iran, as he voiced frustration over Tehran's delays in concluding the deal with Washington.

Speaking in the Oval Office, Trump said, "We're going to be attacking them, attacking them very hard."

He suggested that Iran's downing of a US Apache helicopter provided grounds for renewed military action.

"Based on the helicopter, I guess we have the right to do that," he told reporters.

"We hit them hard yesterday. We're going to hit them again hard today, in case you miss it, in case you don't turn on your television set, and we'll see what happens with the deal," he added.

On Wednesday, US Central Command stated that the American forces completed additional "self-defence strikes" against multiple targets in Iran, targeting Tehran's military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defence sites across the country.

According to Centcom, US Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy units launched precision strikes on Iranian targets that threatened American forces and international commercial vessels in the region, and the actions respond to Iran's ongoing and unjustified aggression, with US forces remaining alert, capable, and prepared.