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.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said American forces operating in the Middle East intercepted the drones before they could threaten maritime traffic moving through one of the world’s most strategically important energy corridors.

“Earlier today, U.S. forces in the Middle East shot down two Iranian one-way attack drones that threatened international maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz,” CENTCOM said in a statement posted on X, adding that U.S. forces remained prepared to defend against what it described as Iranian aggression.

The incident followed another military exchange less than 24 hours earlier. CENTCOM said on Friday that American forces had shot down four Iranian attack drones launched toward the strait before conducting retaliatory strikes against Iranian coastal surveillance radar sites.

The latest actions underscore the growing risk to commercial navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime chokepoint connecting the Persian Gulf with global energy markets. Any disruption to shipping in the narrow waterway has the potential to affect international trade flows and energy supplies.

Saturday’s drone interceptions came amid a broader deterioration in regional security conditions. Earlier in the day, Iran launched missiles toward Bahrain and Kuwait, according to reports cited by regional officials, expanding the geographical scope of hostilities and drawing renewed concern from Gulf states.

The exchanges represent the latest chapter in an escalating conflict between the United States and Iran, even as both sides continue indirect diplomatic contacts aimed at exploring possible pathways toward ending the confrontation.

The juxtaposition of military operations and ongoing negotiations highlights the complexity of the current crisis, with diplomatic engagement proceeding alongside repeated battlefield escalations.

Neither Tehran nor Washington has indicated any immediate willingness to scale back military activities, raising concerns among regional governments and international shipping operators that further incidents in and around the Strait of Hormuz could increase tensions and heighten risks to maritime security.

The latest drone interceptions reinforce the central role of the waterway in the broader U.S.-Iran confrontation, as both sides continue to test each other’s military capabilities while seeking leverage in parallel diplomatic discussions.

Under the 1973 law, Congress must authorize military action within 60 days of its start or require its end. The deadline followed U.S. operations that began on Feb. 28, but Senate Republicans took no action before leaving for a one-week recess.

Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he did not expect a vote on authorizing force in Iran, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth argued the deadline no longer applied because a ceasefire with Iran that began in early April had effectively paused the conflict.

Democrats rejected that claim, saying U.S. military operations continue as the Navy enforces a blockade linked to the Strait of Hormuz crisis.

Some Republicans, including Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins, said Congress should still have a formal role, with Collins calling the deadline “a requirement” and not a suggestion.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, disclosed that he had inadvertently been added to a Signal chat involving senior Trump administration officials discussing a planned military strike on Houthi targets in Yemen.

The disclosure raised significant concerns over national security, the handling of classified information, and potential violations of the Espionage Act. Here are five key takeaways from this unfolding controversy:

1. The Group Chat and Its Unintended Guest

Goldberg revealed that he was unexpectedly invited to a Signal chat by someone identified as Michael Waltz, believed to be Trump’s National Security Advisor and former Florida congressman. On March 13, he was added to a conversation about U.S. military operations in Yemen.

The chat reportedly included top Trump administration officials such as Vice President J.D. Vance, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Additionally, key Trump allies, including White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles and senior adviser Stephen Miller, were also present.

Goldberg did not announce his presence nor attempt to conceal it, appearing as “JG” in the chat, similar to other participants who used initials. He initially suspected a hoax but later confirmed the authenticity of the messages.

2. Security Implications and Legal Concerns

Goldberg stated that he was privy to operational details of the attack, including specific targets, weapons to be deployed, and the sequence of strikes—two hours before they took place on March 15.

He refrained from publishing those details but warned that if adversaries had gained access, American military personnel and intelligence operations could have been put at risk.

The use of Signal for discussing a military strike may have violated the Espionage Act, which regulates the handling of national defense information. Additionally, the setting of messages to auto-delete raises questions about whether official records laws were breached.

3. Internal Divisions and European Policy Debates

The chat messages also revealed Vice President Vance’s concerns about the U.S. intervening in Yemen. Vance reportedly expressed doubts about the necessity of the strike, noting that Europe had more at stake in protecting trade routes like the Suez Canal.

“I am not sure the president is aware how inconsistent this is with his message on Europe right now,” Vance reportedly wrote, referencing Trump’s long-standing demand that European nations take greater responsibility for their own security.

Secretary Hegseth responded, agreeing with Vance’s frustration over European “free-loading,” but insisted that the U.S. had no alternative but to act.

4. Political Fallout and Reactions

Democratic leaders swiftly condemned the episode. Minnesota Governor Tim Walz criticized Hegseth for “texting out war plans like invites to a frat party.” Senator Elizabeth Warren labeled the breach “blatantly illegal and dangerous beyond belief.”

Republicans were left scrambling. Senate Majority Leader John Thune called for a review, stating, “We’ve got to run it to ground and figure out what went on there.” Senator John Cornyn described the situation as “a huge screwup.”

5. Trump Defends Waltz Amid Controversy

Despite the scandal, President Trump expressed continued confidence in Waltz. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated, “The President has the utmost confidence in his national security team, including National Security Advisor Mike Waltz.”

However, whether the administration’s response will be sufficient to quell bipartisan concerns remains uncertain as scrutiny intensifies over how national security information was handled in this extraordinary breach.

Trump praised U.S. military forces for executing aerial attacks targeting the Houthis’ bases, leadership, and missile defenses.

The United States launched a series of airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen on Saturday, with President Donald Trump pledging to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed rebel group ceases its attacks on commercial and naval vessels in the region.

Trump also issued a stern warning to Iran, demanding that it withdraw support for the Houthis or face consequences. “We will hold Iran fully accountable for the actions of its proxy,” Trump declared.

Military Action and Presidential Statement

In a social media post, Trump praised U.S. military forces for executing aerial attacks targeting the Houthis’ bases, leadership, and missile defenses. He emphasized that the strikes were necessary to protect American interests and restore navigational freedom in the region.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump wrote. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

The president announced the strikes while spending the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

Casualties and Damage

The first U.S. strikes since Trump’s return to office reportedly resulted in at least 31 deaths and 101 injuries, according to Houthi sources. The casualties are said to include women and children.

The strikes targeted multiple locations, including the capital city of Sanaa, the northern province of Saada, and military sites near the Sanaa airport. Additional attacks were reported in the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.

Images circulating on social media showed plumes of black smoke rising over the affected areas.

Reasons Behind the Airstrikes

The strikes follow the Houthis’ recent announcement that they would resume attacks on Israeli-linked vessels in retaliation for Israel’s blockade of Gaza. The group had warned of targeting vessels in the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, and the Arabian Sea.

Since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in late 2023, the Houthis have been responsible for over 100 attacks on merchant vessels, sinking two ships and killing four sailors.

The United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom had previously conducted joint strikes against Houthi targets, but Saturday’s operation was executed solely by U.S. forces.

Houthi and Iranian Response

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, vowed that the airstrikes would not deter their operations and warned of retaliation against the U.S. Mohamed Abdulsalam, a spokesperson for the group, dismissed Trump’s claims about threats to international shipping as “false and misleading.”

Iran, which has long provided financial and military support to the Houthis, has not yet issued an official response to the latest strikes.

Broader Implications

The airstrikes come amid escalating tensions between Washington and Tehran. Just two weeks ago, Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders proposing a pathway for renewed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program. The president has made clear that he will not allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon, further raising the stakes in the region.

As the conflict in Yemen intensifies, the duration and extent of U.S. military action remain uncertain. A U.S. official, speaking to the Associated Press, confirmed that strikes will continue but provided no timeline for their conclusion.