Despite calls from world leaders to continue peace talks, the United States and Iran have intensified their military strikes on each others' assets. Now, President Donald Trump announced that the US will hit Iran "very hard tonight".
Trump also threatened to seize the Iranian oil export hub Kharg Island as well as other oil infrastructure, suggesting that Iran's oil market will be controlled by the US, just like in Venezuela. Kharg Island is an economic hub, through which the country exports nearly 90 per cent of the its crude oil.
"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," Trump wrote on Truth Social.
While there is no confirmation whether Trump's threat against will actually materialise, many see this as an attempt to pressure Tehran into accepting the US demands at the negotiating table. In the past too, Trump has made similar threats about all-out military action, including deploying boots on the ground, he later took a U-turn at the last minute, citing progress in the peace talks.
This comes as the US and Iran struck each other for a second day, sparking worries about resumption of all-out war. Iran on Thursday announced that the Strait of Hormuz is closed for all ships.
The US Central Command said its latest strikes targeted Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air defence sites. Acknowledging the strikes, Iran's Revolutionary Guard said a manufacturing complex, a military barracks and a local Guard base outside of Tehran were targeted.
In retaliation, Iran on Thursday struck US assets in Kuwait, Bahrain and Jordan, a continuation of its attack from Wednesday.
