Trump threatens to hit Iran hard tonight, seize oil infrastructure
President Trump said Thursday the U.S. would hit Iran very hard that night and threatened to seize Kharg Island, Iran's main oil terminal, along with other oil infrastructure in the not-too-distant future. He compared the plan to U.S. control of Venezuela's oil sector. The threat came after tit-for-tat military strikes between the two countries, raising concerns about a full-scale war resumption. Later Thursday, Trump walked back the strikes, saying a deal had been reached with Iran and talks were at the highest leadership level. Iran's Parliament speaker warned against impulsive decisions that could damage energy markets and create a regional quagmire. Meanwhile, Trump also claimed progress toward a meaningful deal, though Iran did not confirm any agreement. The Strait of Hormuz closure threatens global oil supplies, with twenty percent of world oil flowing through before the war.
Key facts
- Kharg Island handles 90% of Iran's oil exports through the Persian Gulf
- Strait of Hormuz carried 20% of world oil supply before the war began
- Trump previously compared Iran policy to U.S. control of Venezuela's oil after capturing Maduro in January 2026
- Negotiations between U.S. and Iran have stretched for months with Pakistan facilitating talks
- U.S. Central Command said latest strikes targeted military surveillance, communications and air defense sites
How different outlets framed it
Left-leaning coverage: Democratic lawmakers criticized Trump for unilateral military action without Congressional approval, calling his approach reckless and dangerous. Critics argued he lacked a clear strategy, failed to define success, and risked endless foreign wars while bypassing constitutional requirements for Congressional authorization.
Right-leaning coverage: Republican voices supported military pressure on Iran's nuclear program, arguing Trump was delivering strong deterrence after decades of appeasement. They contended Iran repeatedly delayed negotiations and could not be trusted to abandon nuclear ambitions without forceful action.
Limits of this briefing
Iran has not confirmed any deal was reached despite Trump's claims. Full status of peace talks remains unclear, and Trump has made similar deal-imminent claims multiple times over preceding months.
Sources
- Time: Trump Says U.S. Will Be 'Hitting Iran Very Hard Tonight,' Threatens to Take Over Oil Infrastructure Centre
- PBS News: Trump threatens to take 'total control' of Iran's oil industry with major strikes Centre
- CNN: Trump cancels planned strikes and touts progress, Iran says no deal finalized Centre
- NBC News: Trump says he has canceled strikes on Iran, signals move toward deal Centre
- NPR: Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard tonight' and later take over its oil and gas sectors Centre