Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' and seize Kharg Island as peace talks stall

Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran 'very hard' tonight and seize Kharg Island, the backbone of Iran's oil industry, as peace negotiations remain deadlocked. In a post on Truth Social, the US president wrote: 'The United States will be hitting Iran (whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti-Aircraft, and all other forms of Defence, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT.' He added: '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.'

The threat comes as Qatar has sent a negotiating team to Tehran, reportedly in consultation with the US, in a bid to salvage a peace deal. But the fragile ceasefire between the two nations was further undermined on Wednesday when Iran targeted missiles at US bases in several Gulf states, apparently in response to the latest US strikes. Iran also launched attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait, both of which fired air defences in response. Trump blamed Iran for shooting down a US Army Apache helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz earlier this week.

“Trump threatens 'very hard' strikes on Iran and seizure of Kharg Island, as peace talks stall and inflation soars.”

Mediators led by Pakistan have been trying for weeks to secure a permanent deal, but both sides have taken hard-line positions. The US wants Iran to give up its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, while Iran demands relief from sanctions and the release of frozen assets before any final agreement, something Trump has rejected. The war, which began on 28 February, has driven up energy prices globally and pushed US inflation to 4.2% year-on-year in May, the highest level in three years, up from 2.4% before the conflict.

Trump downplayed the inflation data during an Oval Office ceremony, claiming that the US has been secretly removing massive amounts of oil from Iranian control. 'Do you know we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil? Nobody knows it. You know who doesn't know about it? Iran, until right now,' he said. He later posted on Truth Social that a secret mission had resulted in 'more than 100 MILLION Barrels of Oil making its way through the Straight [sic], and into the Open Market.' He boasted: 'Their military is defeated, and their economy is lost. It's over for Iran!'