Tehran on Saturday threatened to retaliate against attacks on Kharg, by turning US-linked oil infrastructure into “Mountains of Ash”.
Shortly after the United States carried out heavy bombing raids on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island late Friday, and following Trump’s warning that US forces could target Iranian oil facilities if Teheran continues to block the Strait of Hormuz, Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesperson for the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, declared that all oil, economic, and energy infrastructure linked to US companies would be “reduced to mountains of ash” if corresponding Iranian assets are attacked.
“In response to the statement of the …US president, we declare that if there is an attack on the oil, economic, and energy infrastructure of the Islamic Republic of Iran, as we have previously warned, immediately all oil, economic, and energy infrastructure belonging to companies across the region with US stakes, or cooperating with the US, will be destroyed and turned into mountains of ash,” Iranian state media quoted Zolfaghari as saying.
The United States launched powerful bombing raids on Iran’s strategic Kharg Island late Friday thus escalating tensions in the Middle East.
President Donald Trump announced that American forces had carried out one of the “most powerful bombing” operations ever conducted in the region. He stated that the strikes “totally obliterated every military target” on Kharg Island, which he described as Iran’s “crown jewel,” marking a dramatic intensification of the ongoing U.S.-Iran conflict.
The operation targeted Iranian military facilities on Kharg Island, a critical oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf. The strikes come amid Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) pledging to prevent “a litre of oil” from passing through the Strait of Hormuz, as the closure of the key Gulf waterway continues to disrupt global energy markets during the US-Israeli campaign against Iran.
President Trump revealed the strike in a post on Truth Social, stating, “At my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target on Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island.”
He added, “Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated the world has ever known, but for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island.”
Trump emphasised that US forces had “completely destroyed” the targeted military sites and warned Iran that Washington would not hesitate to launch additional attacks if Tehran continues threatening international shipping routes.
He also warned that his restraint could change if Iran interferes with shipping, saying, “However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”
The president also claimed that Iran lacks the capability to defend itself against U.S. strikes if tensions escalate. He urged Iran’s military and allies to “stand down,” suggesting that continued confrontation could lead to even more severe consequences.
Highlighting US military strength, he stated, “During my first term, and currently, I rebuilt our military into the most lethal, powerful, and effective force in the world. Iran has no ability to defend anything we want to attack. There is nothing they can do about it.”
Reiterating his stance on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Trump said, “Iran will never have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States, the Middle East, or the world.”
He also issued a warning to Iran’s leadership and military: “Iran’s military, and all others involved with this terrorist regime, would be wise to lay down their arms and save what’s left of their country.”
Trump claimed, “Iran had plans to take over the entire Middle East and completely obliterate Israel. Just like Iran itself, those plans are now dead.”
While the airstrikes focused on military installations, Trump indicated that Iran’s energy infrastructure could become a future target if Tehran continues restricting shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
The strikes targeted missile storage sites, naval mine depots, and other military assets linked to Iran’s strategy of threatening commercial vessels traveling through the Gulf.
Kharg Island is widely regarded as the backbone of Iran’s oil export system. Located in the northern Persian Gulf, the island serves as the country’s primary oil terminal and historically handles the majority of Iran’s crude shipments.
Iranian state-linked media reported more than a dozen explosions across the island during the US attack.
Early reports indicated the strikes targeted air-defense systems, a naval base, and airport facilities.
The strikes come amid extreme volatility in global energy markets. Oil prices have surged sharply since the conflict began nearly two weeks ago, with the international benchmark for crude surpassing USD100 per barrel, an increase of more than 40 percent since the start of the war.
Shipping activity through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed significantly as tanker operators assess the risks of entering the region with the IRGC asserting that they would not allow even one litre of oil to pass through the strategic waterway.
On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched strikes on targets in Iran, including Tehran, causing damage and civilian casualties. Iran responded by striking Israeli territory and U.S. military facilities in the Middle East. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was killed on the first day of the military operation.
The Islamic Republic declared 40 days of mourning.
The US and Israel initially claimed their “preemptive” attack was necessary to counter the perceived threat from Iran’s nuclear program, but later indicated they sought a change of power in Iran.
