DUBAI, June 11: US President Donald Trump sharply escalated tensions with Iran on Thursday, threatening major US strikes and warning that Washington could take “total control” of Iran’s oil and gas industry, including the strategically vital Kharg Island oil terminal.
In a social media post, Trump declared that the US would hit Iran “very hard tonight” and suggested a future takeover of Iran’s energy sector, comparing it to US actions against Venezuela’s oil industry following the capture of former president Nicolas Maduro.
The threats came as the United States and Iran exchanged attacks for a second consecutive day, raising fears of a wider regional conflict.
US airstrikes, which continued into Thursday morning, were reportedly more intense and widespread than previous attacks.
Iran provided limited details on the damage but said it retaliated by launching missiles toward Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, countries that host US military facilities.
Kharg Island, through which about 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports pass, is central to Tehran’s economy.
However, any US attempt to control the facility would expose American forces to attacks from the nearby Iranian mainland, located just 33 kilometres away.
The US military also intensified enforcement of its blockade on Iranian oil exports. Central Command said it used missiles to disable a tanker attempting to transport Iranian oil.
An Indian official reported that a separate US strike on a merchant vessel earlier in the week killed three Indian sailors.
The latest action marked the ninth merchant ship disabled since the blockade began in April.
Diplomatic efforts to end the conflict appeared stalled. Trump warned Tehran would “pay the price” for the lack of progress, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry said recent US attacks had effectively rendered an earlier ceasefire meaningless.
A major sticking point remains Iran’s influence over the Strait of Hormuz, a key global energy route whose disruption has driven up fuel and commodity prices worldwide.
Iran announced that the Strait of Hormuz was closed, though shipping traffic had already been heavily restricted.
The US disputed the claim, with Trump asserting that American forces had been secretly escorting oil shipments through the waterway, allowing more than 100 million barrels of oil to bypass Iranian interference.
The two sides also remain divided over Iran’s nuclear programme.
Tehran insists its activities are peaceful, while the US and Israel fear its enriched uranium stockpile could be used to develop nuclear weapons.
Iran has additionally linked any broader peace agreement to an end to fighting between Israel and Hezbollah in Lebanon, a condition Israel has so far rejected.
As military exchanges continue and negotiations remain deadlocked, concerns are growing that the region could slide back into a full-scale war. (AP)
