ALBAWABA- U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened a significant escalation against Iran, including the possible seizure of Kharg Island, following renewed Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
Speaking amid rising tensions, Trump said the United States could take control of Kharg Island, Iran's main deep-water oil export terminal, as part of efforts to increase pressure on Tehran. He also claimed U.S. forces destroyed 28 Iranian boats overnight and warned that additional vessels could be targeted.
"Our attack on Iran may be big," Trump said, adding that the United States could also strike Iran's power and water infrastructure if necessary, although he said he hoped such action would not be required.
Trump also launched a scathing attack on Iran's leadership, calling them "scoundrels and evildoers" and "the cancer that must be eradicated early." Referring to the Iranian Revolution, he added: "These are crazy people and they should have been eliminated 47 years ago."
The remarks came after a series of Iranian attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, including reported strikes on Qatari and Saudi ships. U.S. officials said the attacks violated a recently signed memorandum of understanding intended to reduce tensions between Washington and Tehran.
According to CNN, U.S. officials are actively considering the occupation of Kharg Island as a potential strategy to disrupt Iran's oil exports and increase economic pressure on the country.
Iran responded with a strongly worded warning. Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, wrote on X: "Come on, we're waiting for you, and we promise you that not a single American soldier will return alive."
The latest exchange marks a sharp escalation in the U.S.-Iran confrontation after weeks of military clashes, limited diplomatic engagement, and a fragile ceasefire. Control of Kharg Island would deal a major blow to Iran's economy, as the facility handles most of the country's crude oil exports.
