Trump again threatens Iran: We want complete control over their oil and gas market

(Patria) - US President Donald Trump announced on the social network Truth Social that the United States will hit Iran "very hard" tonight, and that in the near future they plan to take control of the Iranian oil market, including the key Kharg Island.

This escalation comes at a time when peace talks are stalled, and the US and Iran are already exchanging strikes. Trump earlier warned that bombing would continue if a memorandum of understanding is not reached. In his post on Truth Social, Trump claimed that Iran's military capabilities have already been eliminated:

"The United States will hit Iran VERY HARD tonight (whose navy, air force, radar, air defense and all other forms of defense, along with most offensive capabilities, are GONE!)", Trump wrote.

He then outlined plans related to Iranian energy resources:

"In the not too distant future, we will take Kharg Island and other points of oil infrastructure, and take complete control over their oil and gas markets, similar to what we did with Venezuela, which works great for both Venezuela and the United States."

Kharg Island has been a constant target of Trump's threats since the beginning of the attacks on Iran, and he previously stated that the US "could easily take it." This coral island is about five miles long (twice the size of London's Heathrow Airport), located 16 miles (26 km) off the Iranian coast and about 300 miles (483 km) north of the Strait of Hormuz. The island is Iran's main oil terminal in the Persian Gulf. It is considered the country's economic lifeline, as approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports pass through it.