Donald Trump has vowed to attack Iran ‘very hard’ tonight and seize Kharg Island, the backbone of Iran’s oil industry.
The US and Iran have been striking one another again for the past two days, with fears that the escalation could push the Middle East back right into a full-scale war.
Trump, who has previously bragged about being the ‘President of Peace’, has promised a take care of Iran greater than 40 times for the reason that conflict began – to no avail.
Stalled negotiations have led to recent strikes on Iran from the US, with Trump saying the country would ‘pay the value’ for lack of progress in a peace agreement.
‘America might be hitting Iran (whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti-Aircraft, and all other types of Defence, along with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT,’ Trump wrote on Truth Social.
‘In some unspecified time in the future within the not-too-distant future, we might be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, very similar to we’ve with Venezuela, which is understanding brilliantly for each Venezuela and america of America.’
Join for all of the most recent stories
Start your day informed with Metro’s News Updates newsletter or get Breaking News alerts the moment it happens.
Mediators, led predominantly by Pakistan, have been trying for weeks to get a deal across the road, but each Iran and the US have taken hard-line positions.
Iran and the US each have different demands. The US desires to see Iran quit its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, which is believed still to be entombed within the country after American air strikes within the 12-day war in 2025.
But Iran is refusing that and demanding relief from sanctions. It also wants the discharge of frozen assets even before a final agreement is in place, something rejected by Trump.
Trump blamed the Islamic Republic for shooting down a US Army Apache helicopter earlier this week near the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran then launched attacks in Bahrain and Kuwait, each of which fired air defences in response.
Because the US and Israel began striking Iran on February 28, the war has shaken the worldwide economy, driven up energy prices world wide and made many basics, including food, costlier.
Officials have been unable to show the April ceasefire right into a deal to permanently end the conflict, particularly as Israel intensifies and expands its military campaign in Lebanon against the Iranian-backed militia Hezbollah.
Get in contact with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, check our news page.
MORE: The ten airlines which have collapsed amid global fuel shortages – with 4 from the UK
MORE: Donald Trump claims US has sneaked tens of millions of barrels of oil under Iran’s nose
MORE: The Karmelo Anthony case: How a faculty track meet resulted in murder