U.S. President Donald Trump says the United States will carry out additional strikes against Iran and will take control of Iran’s key oil infrastructure. Multiple outlets report that Trump made the remarks on Thursday, describing the planned attacks as “very hard” and warning of “bigger, more powerful” strikes on what he indicated could be the third successive night of attacks.
The comments come after an overnight exchange of strikes between the United States and Iran, according to Al-Monitor. Al-Monitor also reports that Iran warns a ceasefire is “practically meaningless” following the latest U.S. strikes, while acknowledging the broader ceasefire situation between the sides described as shaky and time-limited.
Several reports say Trump links the military pressure to an effort to push Iran toward a more permanent settlement, and that he specifically references taking control of major oil facilities, including Kharg Island and other oil and gas infrastructure. The outlets characterize the threatened moves as a potential escalation in the ongoing conflict.
