(June 11): President Donald Trump said the US would strike Iran again on Thursday and threatened to take control of the country’s energy infrastructure including the key oil export hub of Kharg Island “at some point”.
“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,” Trump wrote on his social media platform.
“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,” he wrote.
A two-month ceasefire collapsed over the weekend when Iran downed a US military helicopter, sparking an exchange of retaliatory strikes.
Trump's comments threaten further escalation which risks derailing slow-moving talks over a peace agreement. Taking Kharg Island would likely require the use of US ground forces, which would put service members in greater danger and pose political challenges for the president, as the war becomes increasingly unpopular at home.
Uploaded by Tham Yek Lee
