Middle East crisis live: Trump threatens ‘very hard’ attack on Iran tonight and says US will seize Kharg island
Trump threatens to attack Iran 'very hard tonight' and seize Kharg IslandDonald Trump has threatened to attack Iran “very hard tonight” and seize the country’s Kharg Island and “other infrastructure” in his latest warning to Tehran.In a post on his Truth Social app, he said:
double quotation markThe United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT. At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Iran’s Kharg Island in the Gulf is an economic lifeline for the country, which handles about 90% of its oil exports.US president Donald Trump at the Oval Office in the White House on Wednesday. Photograph: Evan Vucci/ReutersShareUpdated at 14.38 CESTKey eventsFootage has emerged of the killing of seven-month-old Sam Abu Haikal in the occupied West Bank that appears to contradict the Israeli military’s account of the shooting.The Israel Defense Forces said its troops had “perceived a vehicle accelerating toward them” and that one of its soldiers had “responded with single shots toward the vehicle”.Video obtained by the Israeli Information Center for Human Rights, however, shows the family’s car slowing down and stopping.The video has no sound and it is unclear when exactly the soldier opened fire at the vehicle, but the clip appears to corroborate the account of Sam’s father, Fahed Abu Haikal.Father of baby killed by Israeli forces in West Bank recounts shooting – videoShareSmoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Kfar Tibnit, Lebanon, earlier today:View image in fullscreenSmoke rises from the site of an Israeli airstrike that targeted the village of Kfar Tibnit on June 11, 2026. Photograph: AFP/Getty ImagesShareUN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that all parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.In a post on X, Guterres added that there must be a comprehensive ceasefire and said he fully supports a monopoly on weapons by the Lebanese government.ShareWilliam ChristouTrump’s latest comments came after Iran and the US traded strikes for a second successive day, triggered by the downing of a US helicopter above the strait of Hormuz.The ceasefire, established in early April, has been undermined by sporadic retaliatory strikes, with both sides accusing the other of violating the temporary truce.Trump said Thursday’s assault was prompted by Iran stalling in negotiations aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a permanent peace.The most intense strikes yet took place on Thursday morning, with the US launching a wide-ranging salvo against what it described as “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air-defence sites across Iran”.The US military said it also struck an oil tanker near the strait of Hormuz that it claimed was attempting to breach a blockade of Iranian ports, firing Hellfire missiles at the vessel.ShareOil prices rise since Trump threatens attack on Iran and seizure of Kharg islandThe price of oil has risen since Donald Trump has threatened a ‘very hard’ attack on Iran tonight and said US will seize Kharg island, according to the BBC. Brent crude futures increased by around $2, to $94.16, a barrel in the space of a few minutes this afternoon – before shortly falling back down minorly.This comes in as Trump claims he will be “taking” Kharg Island “at some point in the not too distant future”. He believes he will take control of their oil and gas markets, “much like we have with Venezuela”.Kharg island, which is home to a major oil terminal that is considered vital to the country’s economy, is located just off the coast of Iran.Kharg islandKharg islandCNN is now reporting that Iran has laid traps on the island with anti-personnel and antiarmor mines, including along the shoreline that US troops could enter if Trump did announce an on-the-ground-mission.It is also moving shoulder-fired, surface-to-air guided missile systems known as MANPADs to the island – according to the outlet.ShareAccording to Mehr, Iran’s semi-official news agency, explosions have been heard in Sirik, which borders the strait of Hormuz. These blasts allegedly sounded from the sea, according to reports.“A few minutes ago, an explosion was heard in the Sirik area at sea,” a state television reporter said from the area, without providing further information.ShareUS president Donald Trump told Fox News that he would “rather not” attack civilian infrastructure in Iran – despite previously threatening to. This comes as the US said it will increase strikes on the Islamic Republic.“Yeah, but I’d rather not do it, because once you do that, the people suffer,” Trump said when asked if the United States would start attacking power plants and bridges as he has previously threatened.In the same interview, Trump also said: “The problem is it could be the greatest deal in history. They could wave the white flag of surrender and say ‘Praise be to Allah’ and the fake news would say, ‘It was a great victory for Iran.’ It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. We’re killing them. We’re killing them.”View image in fullscreenUS president Donald Trump. Photograph: Aaron Schwartz/EPAShareIn further comments to Fox News, Donald Trump said the US “dropped $250m worth of bombs on them [Iran] last night”.He said the US was “not hitting them hard enough” but also claimed Iran was “in submission, they just don’t know it yet”.He added: “My preference has always been take Kharg Island … I don’t know that America has the stomach for it.”ShareThe Kuwaiti armed forces said it has responded to 24 Iranian drones in its airspace in the past two days. “The Iranian aggression resulted in limited material damage without any human casualties,” the army said in a statement on social media.Kuwait had closed its airspace for several hours this morning as air defence systems engaged “hostile aerial targets”, the military said.ShareTrump threatens to attack Iran 'very hard tonight' and seize Kharg IslandDonald Trump has threatened to attack Iran “very hard tonight” and seize the country’s Kharg Island and “other infrastructure” in his latest warning to Tehran.In a post on his Truth Social app, he said:
double quotation markThe United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT. At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”
Iran’s Kharg Island in the Gulf is an economic lifeline for the country, which handles about 90% of its oil exports.View image in fullscreenUS president Donald Trump at the Oval Office in the White House on Wednesday. Photograph: Evan Vucci/ReutersShareUpdated at 14.38 CESTThe Iranian foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, said the renewed US strikes against Iran “have rendered the ceasefire ineffective”, according to a statement on his Telegram channel.Araghchi discussed the latest developments with the EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, in a phone call this afternoon, where he condemned the US attacks, the statement said.
double quotation markIn this call, our country’s foreign minister strongly condemned the recent US aggression, calling it a clear violation of the UN Charter and international law, and announced that these actions have rendered the ceasefire ineffective and that the US is responsible for its dangerous consequences.
View image in fullscreenIran's foreign minister, Abbas Araghchi, at a news conference in Tehran in March. Photograph: Xinhua/ShutterstockShareUS confirms it struck tanker off Oman’s port of ShinasThe US has confirmed that it carried out a strike on Guinea-Bissau-flagged vessel M/T Jalveer, which according to Central Command (Centcom) was violating the blockade.Centcom alleged that the ship was attempting to transport Iranian oil through the Gulf of Oman.According to Centcom, it is the third vessel attacked by the US in the Gulf this week - after the Marivex and Settebello vessels were struck previously.India’s shipping ministry said all 20 Indian crew members were safe after the Jalveer ship sent a distress call while off Oman’s port of Shinas after a fire broke out, according to Reuters.ShareSaudi Arabia has lifted its five-year import ban from Lebanon – which marks a significant step in improving relations between countries in the Gulf region and Lebanon.The ban was introduced in 2021 and initially was only for Lebanese fruits and vegetables, citing drug smuggling concerns. It later extended to all Lebanese products after Lebanon’s information minister at the time criticized Saudi Arabia’s actions in Yemen.Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement Wednesday that the reversal of the ban at the order of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman came as a result of “positive steps taken by the Lebanese state.”The current government of Lebanon, which came to power last year with promises of reform, has sought to rebuild ties with the Gulf countries.Share
