US-Iran War : As Trump’s Deadline Approaches, Kharg Island Targeted Amid Ongoing Talks
New York : The US military on Tuesday hit several military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s strategic oil hub, an American official told Axios. The strikes also came a day after Trump said he was “very upset” with Iran for rejecting his ceasefire plan and warned that Tehran would “pay a big price” if it failed to reach a deal. While Iran called for a permanent end to the conflict, now in its sixth week, under broader conditions, Trump indicated there would be serious consequences if no agreement is reached.
The IRGC warned that it could turn energy infrastructure linked to the US and its allies “into ashes”, threatening to disrupt oil and gas flows across the region “for years.” The warning came after Trump said last weekend that he was considering whether US forces could seize the island. The US struck military targets on Kharg Island, targeting military installations. The strikes destroyed naval mine storage and missile bunkers, while oil infrastructure was largely spared.
Located about 26 km off Iran’s coast and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg is often dubbed the “Forbidden Island” due to its isolation and heavy security presence. On February 28, the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran to curb its expanding nuclear programme, killing several top political and military leaders, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with a full-scale strike on its energy infrastructure if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the stipulated deadline. Trump has now extended the deadline three times, with the latest set to expire on April 7 (Tuesday). The initial ultimatum was for five days, followed by a 10-day extension late last month. That deadline was due to end on Monday before his most recent delay, stretching what began as a 48-hour warning into a 408-hour window.
Trump had earlier threatened strikes on Kharg Island’s oil infrastructure unless attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were halted. On Monday, Trump said he was “very upset” with Iran and warned that Tehran would “pay a big price” if it failed to reach a deal, signalling a tougher stance as his self-imposed deadline nears. His comments followed Iran’s rejection of a US ceasefire proposal, with its response conveyed via Pakistan, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency.
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