In a social media post, Trump said the United States would strike Iran “VERY HARD TONIGHT” and declared that Washington would “assume total control” of Iran’s oil and gas sector, including the strategically important Kharg Island export terminal, at some point in the future.

Trump did not provide details on how such a move could be carried out. Kharg Island is the main hub for Iranian crude exports and a critical source of revenue for the country’s economy. The island is located off Iran’s Gulf coast and serves as a central artery for the nation’s energy shipments.

The comments came as the U.S. military launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian military targets, broadening a campaign that appeared more extensive than operations conducted a day earlier.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces carried out additional strikes against Iranian surveillance systems, communications infrastructure and air defense facilities. According to the command, U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force and Navy assets employed precision-guided munitions against targets viewed as threats to American personnel and commercial maritime traffic in regional waters.

CENTCOM described the operations as defensive measures conducted in response to what it called continuing Iranian aggression.

Iran condemned the attacks, with the Foreign Ministry saying the latest U.S. military action effectively rendered a ceasefire that had held for nearly two months “practically meaningless.”

In a statement, the ministry said the strikes represented a violation of international norms and warned that responsibility for any serious consequences would rest with U.S. leaders.

Speaking at the White House, Trump said military pressure on Iran would continue while diplomatic channels remained open.

“We’re going to be attacking them very hard,” Trump told reporters, while reiterating his administration’s desire for a negotiated settlement.

The president said Washington sought an agreement that would permanently prevent Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. He claimed Tehran had accepted the principle of foregoing nuclear arms but said a final accord had not been concluded.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth echoed the administration’s warnings during a visit to the U.S. naval base at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.

Hegseth said the strikes were intended to protect American forces and cautioned Tehran against escalating the confrontation further.

“Iran would be unwise to challenge us further,” he said.

The latest exchange has heightened concerns about a broader regional conflict involving the United States and Iran, while adding uncertainty to energy markets and international diplomatic efforts aimed at reducing tensions in the Middle East.

Despite the military escalation, U.S. officials continued to emphasize that diplomacy remains Washington’s preferred path, provided any future agreement includes lasting guarantees that Iran will not develop a nuclear weapons capability.

Brent crude futures rose 65 cents to $112.84 a barrel by 0446 GMT, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate climbed 84 cents to $98.75, after both benchmarks had earlier fallen by more than $1. The spread between the two contracts widened to over $13 a barrel, the largest gap in years.

The volatility follows a U.S. decision to allow the temporary delivery and sale of Iranian-origin oil already at sea, injecting additional supply into markets strained by disruptions linked to the ongoing conflict.

Market sentiment remained highly sensitive to geopolitical developments after Donald Trump issued a 48-hour ultimatum demanding Iran fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or face strikes on its power plants.Iranian officials responded with warnings that any such action would trigger attacks on critical energy and infrastructure assets across the Gulf.

Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf said regional facilities could face “irreversible” damage if Iranian plants were targeted.Analysts said the exchange of threats pointed to a heightened risk of escalation.

Amrita Sen of Energy Aspects said markets were underestimating the likelihood that Iran would resist pressure, warning that further confrontation could have severe consequences for Gulf infrastructure.

Despite the release of additional Iranian oil, traders remained focused on the scale of supply disruption caused by the conflict. The Strait of Hormuz, a key artery for global energy flows handling roughly 20% of oil and liquefied natural gas trade, has been severely affected.Industry estimates suggest the war has removed between 7 million and 10 million barrels per day from Middle East production, tightening global supply even as policymakers attempt to stabilise markets.

Vandana Hari of Vanda Insights said short-term price movements would continue to be driven by geopolitical rhetoric, but longer-term trends would depend on the restoration of oil flows from the region.

Fatih Birol, head of the International Energy Agency, described the current crisis as “very severe,” exceeding the combined impact of the oil shocks of the 1970s.The conflict, now in its fourth week, has damaged major energy facilities and disrupted shipping routes, amplifying concerns over prolonged supply constraints and broader economic fallout.

The interplay between potential supply increases from Iranian oil and the risk of further infrastructure damage has left markets exposed to sharp price swings as the situation evolves.