U.S. President Donald Trump says the United States will strike Iran “very hard” on Thursday night. In posts shared on Truth Social, Trump also signals that the U.S. could eventually take control of Iran’s energy infrastructure, including Kharg Island, a major oil export hub and storage site in the Gulf. Reuters and other outlets report that Trump frames the possible takeover as part of a longer-term effort to assume control of Iran’s oil and gas markets, comparing it to U.S. actions involving Venezuela. Multiple sources describe Trump’s language as threatening near-term military action followed by potential control of Iranian oil and gas sites “at some point” or in the “not too distant future.”
The reports also note the wider context of the Middle East crisis and recent tit-for-tat exchanges between the two sides, with references to a temporary ceasefire amid accusations of breaches. While outlets differ slightly in phrasing, they consistently attribute the statements to Trump and focus on his twin claims: immediate escalation of strikes and a possible later seizure of Kharg Island and other related infrastructure.
