Trump threatens wider Iran strikes, floats potential Kharg Island seizure as ceasefire talks falter

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday warned of sweeping attacks on Iran’s civilian and energy infrastructure if a ceasefire agreement is not reached “shortly,” escalating tensions even as diplomatic efforts continue.

In a social media post, Trump said “great progress is being made” in efforts to end the conflict but cautioned that failure to secure a deal, including the immediate reopening of the strategic Strait of Hormuz, could trigger a broader U.S. offensive. He threatened to target Iran’s “Electric Generating Plants, Oil Wells and Kharg Island (and possibly all desalination plants!).”

Kharg Island is Iran’s primary oil export terminal, handling the majority of the country’s crude shipments. Its strategic location in the Persian Gulf makes it a crucial hub not only for Iran’s economy but also for global oil distribution, as disruptions there could significantly impact international energy markets.

Despite claims of progress, fighting across the region intensified. Iran struck a key water and electrical facility in Kuwait, while an oil refinery in Israel came under attack. Israeli and U.S. forces also launched a new wave of strikes on Iranian targets.

Trump’s remarks, along with comments in an interview with the Financial Times, underscored the contradiction between ongoing diplomatic messaging and escalating military threats. While Trump has repeatedly said talks with Tehran are advancing, Iranian officials deny direct negotiations with Washington.

The U.S. has continued deploying additional forces to the Middle East, further complicating efforts mediated by Pakistan. Iran’s recent attacks on Gulf neighbors have added uncertainty to negotiations, particularly as countries like the United Arab Emirates signal support for Iran’s disarmament, a condition Tehran is unlikely to accept.

In the Financial Times interview, Trump also suggested the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub. “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t,” he said. “We have a lot of options.” He added that the U.S. has identified approximately 3,000 potential targets in Iran, though he maintained that “a deal could be made fairly quickly.”

Speaking aboard Air Force One late Sunday, Trump said the U.S. was negotiating “directly and indirectly” with Iran, adding: “We’re doing extremely well in that negotiation but you never know with Iran because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up.”

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei confirmed receiving a 15-point proposal from the U.S. but reiterated that no direct talks have taken place. Meanwhile, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed diplomatic efforts, warning that Iranian forces were prepared to confront any U.S. ground deployment.

Military analysts note that any attempt to seize Kharg Island would require navigating the Strait of Hormuz and overcoming significant Iranian defenses, including missiles, drones, and artillery positioned on the mainland.

Elsewhere, hostilities persisted across multiple fronts. Sirens sounded near Israel’s main nuclear research center, and Israeli forces intercepted drones launched from Yemen by Iran-backed Houthi rebels. A fire broke out at a refinery in Haifa, though it was quickly contained.

Iran also launched attacks targeting Gulf states. Saudi Arabia intercepted missiles aimed at its Eastern Province, Bahrain issued a missile alert, and air defenses in Dubai destroyed an incoming projectile. In Kuwait, an Iranian strike on a power and desalination plant killed one worker and injured 10 soldiers, according to state media.

Israel reported additional strikes on Iranian “military infrastructure” in Tehran, while Iranian authorities said a petrochemical facility in Tabriz was damaged. Iran also confirmed the death of Revolutionary Guard naval commander Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri in an Israeli strike.

In Lebanon, where Israeli ground operations continue, an Indonesian peacekeeper was killed and three others were wounded in an explosion near a southern village. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the military would expand its operations against Hezbollah in the country’s south.

Casualties across the region continue to rise. Iranian officials report more than 1,900 deaths, while Israel has reported 19 fatalities. Additional deaths have been recorded in Gulf states, the occupied West Bank, and Lebanon, where more than 1,200 people have been killed and over 1 million displaced. Six Israeli soldiers and 13 U.S. service members have also died in the conflict.

The escalating attacks on energy infrastructure and ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, a critical route for roughly one-fifth of global oil shipments, have driven oil prices sharply higher, raising concerns about a potential global energy crisis.

Brent crude, the international benchmark, traded at around $115 per barrel in early trading, up nearly 60% since the conflict began on Feb. 28.

As pressure mounts to end the war, both sides have proposed frameworks for a ceasefire. The U.S. plan includes reopening the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran’s counterproposal emphasizes maintaining sovereignty over the vital waterway. Negotiations remain fragile as fighting continues across the region.