‘Just for fun’: Trump hints at new U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States may launch more strikes against Iran’s oil export hub of Khag Island.In an interview with NBC News, Trump said previous U.S. attacks had “totally destroyed” much of the island’s oil infrastructure. He added that the United States “may fight a few more times just for fun.”

In the current conflict, the US military has conducted air strikes on military installations on Kharg Island, hitting dozens of targets, including missile storage areas and other defense facilities. According to reports, the attacks mainly targeted military facilities, while the oil export infrastructure itself was largely intact.However, on Saturday, Trump announced a U.S. attack on the island, describing it as a key hub for Iranian oil trade. He said the U.S. military had “destroyed” military installations on Khag Island, an island in the Persian Gulf that handles most of Iran’s crude oil shipments to global markets.While the attack did not directly target oil terminals, Trump warned that energy infrastructure could be attacked if Iran interferes with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil shipping routes.Khag Island is widely seen as Iran’s economic lifeline. This small island is about 30 kilometers from the Iranian mainland and close to the port city of Bushehr. Although it is only about eight kilometers long, it plays a central role in the country’s oil exports.The island handles approximately 90% of the country’s crude oil exports. Oil from the offshore fields of Abu Zhar, Foruzan and Doloud is transported to the island via undersea pipelines, where it is stored and loaded onto large tankers.

Calling for global naval support

As tensions with Iran continue to disrupt maritime traffic, Trump urged countries that rely on oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz to send warships to help keep the vital route open. “Countries around the world that receive oil through the Strait of Hormuz must take care of this passage, and we will help — a lot!” Trump said in an article published in Truth Social.“The United States will also coordinate with these countries to make everything go quickly, smoothly and well.” He added.About a fifth of the world’s oil and liquefied natural gas typically pass through the strait, a narrow waterway between Iran and Oman. Tehran’s ability to halt shipments through the channel gives it enormous leverage over the United States and its allies.“Many countries, especially those affected by Iran’s attempts to close the Strait of Hormuz, will join the United States of America in sending warships to keep the Strait open and safe,” Trump said in a post earlier Saturday.He added that he hoped countries such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom would send ships to the region.Meanwhile, Western countries increased their military presence in the Eastern Mediterranean during the conflict.