United States President Donald Trump has threatened additional military strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island and called on allied nations to send warships to help secure the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important energy corridors. His remarks came as Tehran vowed to intensify its response, raising concerns about a wider regional conflict and deeper disruption to global oil markets.
Speaking to NBC News on Saturday, Trump claimed that recent US strikes had “totally demolished” much of the oil export infrastructure on Kharg Island. He also suggested that more attacks could follow, signaling a possible expansion of Washington’s military campaign.
“We may hit it a few more times just for fun,” Trump said.
His comments appeared to mark a sharper escalation in tone, especially after earlier statements in which he said US operations were focused only on military-related targets on Kharg.
Iran Warns It Will Respond
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran would respond to any attack targeting the country’s energy infrastructure. In an interview with MS NOW, Araghchi claimed the United States launched its strikes on Kharg Island from two locations in the United Arab Emirates, identifying one as Ras Al-Khaimah and the other as an area near Dubai.
He described the situation as dangerous and said Iran would try to avoid hitting populated areas in any response.
The US Central Command, which oversees American military operations in the Middle East, declined to comment on Araghchi’s accusations. Meanwhile, Anwar Gargash, a diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, said on social media that the UAE had the right to defend itself, while also emphasizing restraint and the importance of reason.
Regional Retaliation Intensifies
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said on Sunday that it had launched missile and drone attacks against targets in Israel and three US military bases in the region. The group described the assaults as the first phase of retaliation following the deaths of workers in Iranian industrial areas.
According to Iranian media, a missile strike on Saturday hit an industrial zone in Isfahan, a city in central Iran, killing at least 15 people. Reports said workers were inside a factory at the time of the attack.
These developments have added to growing fears that the conflict could expand well beyond its initial scope, drawing in more countries and threatening critical infrastructure across the Middle East.
Strait of Hormuz Becomes Global Flashpoint
The Strait of Hormuz has now become central to the crisis. The narrow waterway carries roughly one-fifth of the world’s oil shipments, making it one of the most strategically important maritime routes on the planet. Any serious disruption there has the potential to send energy prices soaring and unsettle economies worldwide.
Concerns over Iran’s ability to block or disrupt shipping through the strait have already caused what is being described as the largest disruption in global oil supply to date. Governments and markets are closely watching the situation as uncertainty deepens.
In a post on social media Saturday, Trump urged countries that rely on oil passing through the Strait of Hormuz to take steps to protect the route.
“The Countries of the World that receive Oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help – A LOT!” Trump wrote.
He added that the United States would work with those countries to ensure operations move “quickly, smoothly, and well.”
Rising Human Cost of the Conflict
The conflict launched by Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on February 28 has already caused heavy casualties. According to reports from governments and state media, more than 2,000 people have been killed, most of them in Iran.
As military strikes and retaliatory attacks continue, fears are growing that the war could deepen instability across the region and place even greater pressure on global energy security.