FLORIDA: U.S. President Donald Trump warned of further attacks on Kharg Island and called on international partners to deploy naval forces to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz, as Iran vowed to intensify retaliatory strikes.
With the U.S.-Israeli conflict against Iran entering its third week, Trump claimed that U.S. operations had already “totally demolished” much of Kharg Island and suggested additional strikes could occur. He told NBC News, “We may hit it a few more times just for fun,” signaling a stark escalation from previous statements that attacks were limited to military targets.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis have so far faltered, with Middle Eastern allies reportedly unable to open meaningful negotiations, sources told Reuters.
Energy supply under threat
The ongoing war has heightened the risk of global energy disruption, as Iran’s ability to block traffic through the Strait of Hormuz a route carrying roughly a fifth of the world’s oil becomes an urgent concern. Oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices surging amid the largest disruption in Gulf oil supply in recent history.
Trump also stated that Tehran appears willing to negotiate a ceasefire, but “the terms aren’t good enough yet.” In a social media post, he urged countries dependent on the Hormuz route to ensure safe passage, promising U.S. support to maintain smooth operations.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi warned that attacks on Iranian energy facilities would trigger retaliation. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed missile and drone strikes against targets in Israel and U.S. bases across the region, describing them as the first wave of reprisals for casualties in Iran’s industrial centers. The Israeli military said it intercepted several incoming projectiles.
Regional tensions rise
Saudi Arabia reported shooting down 10
drones over Riyadh and its eastern regions, although Iran denied involvement in the attacks, according to semi-official Fars News Agency. Meanwhile, oil operations at the UAE’s Fujairah port have resumed following a drone strike and fire. Washington also advised U.S. citizens to leave Iraq amid the escalating conflict.
The air campaign initiated on February 28 by Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly killed over 2,000 people, mostly in Iran. At least 15 people died when a U.S.-Israeli airstrike hit a factory in Isfahan.
Allies hesitant to act ,Trump urged countries including China, France, Japan, South Korea, United Kingdom, and others to dispatch warships to secure the strait, but none provided immediate confirmation.
Japan noted the high legal threshold for military deployment, citing its pacifist constitution, while South Korea said it would review Trump’s request carefully. France and Britain are exploring coalition options to ensure shipping security once the situation stabilizes.
Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei has asserted that the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed, intensifying global concern over energy and regional stability.
