Trump Threatens Further Strikes on Iran Oil Hub, Calls for Gulf Security
Dubai/Jerusalem – U.S. President Donald Trump threatened further strikes against Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, and urged his allies to deploy warships to secure the Strait of Hormuz, as Tehran vowed to escalate its response. As of Sunday, , no clear indication emerged that the conflict was nearing de-escalation.
Trump stated that American strikes had “totally destroyed” much of Kharg Island, warning that further action could follow, telling NBC News, “We may hit it a few more times just for fun.” While he indicated that Tehran appeared willing to enter negotiations to end the conflict, he added that “the terms are not good enough yet.”
These statements represent an escalation in rhetoric from the President, who had previously stated that the United States had only targeted military sites on Kharg Island. They also appeared to undermine diplomatic efforts, with three sources familiar with the matter telling Reuters that the Trump administration had already rejected overtures from its Middle Eastern allies to initiate talks aimed at ending the conflict.
Tehran’s ability to disrupt navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical artery for oil and gas shipments, poses a significant challenge to the United States and its allies, who are already facing a sharp rise in energy prices due to the war causing the largest disruption to oil supplies ever.
In a social media post on Saturday, Trump wrote, “Countries receiving Oil through the Strait of Hormuz must secure it, and we will help – sizeable time!” He added, “The United States will also coordinate with those countries to ensure things are done quickly, smoothly, and efficiently.”
As the conflict entered its third week, both sides appeared to be preparing for a protracted struggle. Iran has raised the flag of defiance, rejecting any possibility of a ceasefire until American and Israeli airstrikes cease.
Iranian forces continued their attacks. A drone strike disrupted a major energy hub in the United Arab Emirates on Saturday, and the United States urged its citizens to leave Iraq on Saturday following a rocket attack on the embassy in Baghdad the previous night.
Since Israel and the United States began airstrikes against Iran on , the conflict has resulted in the deaths of more than 2,000 people, the majority of whom were in Iran, according to reports from governments and state media.
The semi-official Fars News Agency reported on Saturday that at least 15 people were killed in an attack targeting a factory in Isfahan, central Iran.
Iran called on civilians in the UAE to evacuate ports and docks and “hideouts of Americans,” claiming that U.S. Forces had targeted Iran from those areas. The UAE denied that the strikes against Kharg Island on Friday night had been launched from its territory.
The Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps described any facility linked to the United States as a “legitimate target” and urged all American companies to leave the region.
Disruptions to the oil market appear unlikely to subside soon. Industry and trade sources reported on Saturday that some oil loadings had been suspended in Fujairah, UAE, a global hub for ship refueling, following a drone attack.
The Emirate’s media office stated that a drone had been intercepted, but civil defense forces were still working to extinguish a fire caused by falling debris as of late Saturday.
“Intense Coastal Bombardment”
Trump spent the weekend at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, remaining relatively quiet on Saturday while posting on his Truth Social account.
In one post, the Republican President expressed hope that China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, among other nations, would send warships to the Strait of Hormuz. None of those countries have indicated any intention of doing so.
French officials stated on Friday that their government continues to work to form a coalition to secure the Strait of Hormuz once the security situation stabilizes.
A spokesperson for the British Ministry of Defence said on Saturday, “As we have said before, we are currently discussing a range of options with our allies and partners to ensure maritime security in the region.”
Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, who has succeeded his father, stated that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi denied speculation by U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Khamenei had been injured and possibly disfigured. Araghchi told MS News, “The Supreme Leader is doing well. He sent his message yesterday, and he will carry out his duties.”
Khamenei has not appeared publicly, instead issuing a statement on Thursday read by a television announcer.
Damage to Kharg Island
Iran has downplayed the extent of the damage to Kharg Island. The United States stated that it struck military, not industrial, targets on the island, located approximately 24 kilometers off the Iranian coast in the Gulf.
U.S. Central Command stated it struck more than 90 sites on Kharg, including naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and other military targets.
Araghchi stated that Iran would respond to any attack on its energy facilities. The Iranian Defense Ministry reported on Saturday that nine ballistic missiles and 33 drones were launched from Iran towards the UAE.
Iran advised residents to evacuate areas near the ports of Jebel Ali in Dubai and Khalifa in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah, stating it had decided to target branches of American banks in the Gulf.
Fujairah, located outside the Strait of Hormuz, is a departure point for approximately one million barrels per day of Emirati Murban crude oil, equivalent to about one percent of global demand.