Trump threatens ‘very hard’ attack on Iran tonight and says US will seize Kharg island

The Guardian-June11th2026

Tom Ambrose (now); Aneesa Ahmed, Taz Ali and Jonathan Yerushalmy (earlier)

Trump threatens to attack Iran ‘very hard tonight’ and seize Kharg Island

Donald Trump has threatened to attack Iran “very hard tonight” and seize the country’s Kharg Island and “other infrastructure” in his latest warning to Tehran.

In a post on his Truth Social app, he said:

The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter!”

Iran’s Kharg Island in the Gulf is an economic lifeline for the country, which handles about 90% of its oil exports.

UN secretary-general Antonio Guterres said on Thursday that all parties must work towards a diplomatic settlement that fully respects the territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence of Lebanon.

In a post on X, Guterres added that there must be a comprehensive ceasefire and said he fully supports a monopoly on weapons by the Lebanese government.

William Christou

Trump’s latest comments came after Iran and the US traded strikes for a second successive day, triggered by the downing of a US helicopter above the strait of Hormuz.

The ceasefire, established in early April, has been undermined by sporadic retaliatory strikes, with both sides accusing the other of violating the temporary truce.

Trump said Thursday’s assault was prompted by Iran stalling in negotiations aimed at turning the temporary ceasefire into a permanent peace.

The most intense strikes yet took place on Thursday morning, with the US launching a wide-ranging salvo against what it described as “military surveillance capabilities, communication systems and air-defence sites across Iran”.

The US military said it also struck an oil tanker near the strait of Hormuz that it claimed was attempting to breach a blockade of Iranian ports, firing Hellfire missiles at the vessel.

Oil prices rise since Trump threatens attack on Iran and seizure of Kharg island

The price of oil has risen since Donald Trump has threatened a ‘very hard’ attack on Iran tonight and said US will seize Kharg island, according to the BBC. Brent crude futures increased by around $2, to $94.16, a barrel in the space of a few minutes this afternoon – before shortly falling back down minorly.

This comes in as Trump claims he will be “taking” Kharg Island “at some point in the not too distant future”. He believes he will take control of their oil and gas markets, “much like we have with Venezuela”.

Kharg island, which is home to a major oil terminal that is considered vital to the country’s economy, is located just off the coast of Iran.

Kharg island

CNN is now reporting that Iran has laid traps on the island with anti-personnel and antiarmor mines, including along the shoreline that US troops could enter if Trump did announce an on-the-ground-mission.

It is also moving shoulder-fired, surface-to-air guided missile systems known as MANPADs to the island – according to the outlet.