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Trump framed that decision as a calculated act of restraint.
“Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island.”
Kharg Island sits in a highly sensitive region of the Persian Gulf and has long served as a central hub for Iran’s energy exports and military logistics. The area also lies near the Strait of Hormuz, one of the most vital shipping corridors on the planet. Roughly a fifth of the world’s oil supply passes through the narrow waterway every day.
Because of that strategic significance, Trump delivered a direct warning to Tehran about any attempt to disrupt global shipping routes.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” Trump said.
The president also used the announcement to highlight what he says is the unmatched strength of the American military following years of rebuilding and modernization.
“During my First Term, and currently, I rebuilt our Military into the Most Lethal, Powerful, and Effective Force, by far, anywhere in the World,” he said.
Trump went even further, asserting that Iran simply lacks the ability to stop the United States from striking wherever it chooses.
“Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack — There is nothing they can do about it!”
The president also reiterated a message he has delivered consistently throughout his political career: Iran will never be permitted to develop nuclear weapons.
“Iran will NEVER have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World,” Trump said.
He also issued a blunt warning to Iran’s military leadership and to forces aligned with the regime.
“Iran’s Military, and all others involved with this Terrorist Regime, would be wise to lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!”
In a follow-up message posted shortly afterward, Trump claimed the strikes dealt a serious blow to Iran’s broader ambitions in the region.
“Iran had plans of taking over the entire Middle East, and completely obliterating Israel. JUST LIKE IRAN ITSELF, THOSE PLANS ARE NOW DEAD!”
Later in the evening, the administration released unclassified footage showing the strike on Kharg Island. The video appeared to capture several large explosions across the target area as bombs impacted Iranian military sites.
Trump also briefly addressed reporters while departing Joint Base Andrews for Palm Beach. When asked about the situation, the president indicated the military campaign was unfolding successfully.
“The situation in Iran is going very well. A lot of big hits today… We’re in very good control,” said the president.
However, the escalating conflict has not come without risks. According to a report from The Wall Street Journal, several U.S. aircraft were damaged during a retaliatory Iranian drone attack in Saudi Arabia.
The report stated that five U.S. Air Force refueling aircraft were struck in the incident. Details about the severity of the damage have not yet been publicly disclosed.
Meanwhile, tragedy struck another part of the U.S. military operation earlier in the week. A KC-135 Stratotanker crashed in western Iraq on Thursday, killing all six crew members aboard the aircraft.
Officials have not yet released full details about what caused the crash.
As tensions continue to escalate across the Middle East, the dramatic strike on Kharg Island signals a major turning point in the standoff between Washington and Tehran. Whether the attack deters Iran or provokes further retaliation remains to be seen, but one thing is clear: the conflict has entered a far more dangerous phase.
