The United States military has carried out precision strikes against military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, a senior U.S. official confirmed on Tuesday. The operation marks a significant intensification of hostilities as Washington’s deadline for Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz fast approaches.
A U.S. official told Reuters that the additional strikes specifically targeted military installations on the island, which serves as Iran's primary oil export hub. The official emphasised that the operation was designed to degrade Iranian defensive capabilities and did not impact the island's critical oil infrastructure.
Earlier on Tuesday, Iranian state media reported several explosions on the island, which handles roughly 90 per cent of Iran's crude exports. The strikes follow a pattern of escalating aerial engagements that began in late February. President Donald Trump has issued a series of warnings, including an 8:00 PM Tuesday deadline for Iran to cease its blockade of the Strait of Hormuz or face broader attacks on civilian infrastructure.
"We will find out tonight, one of the most important moments in the long and complex history of the world," President Trump stated in a post on Truth Social. He further warned that "a whole civilisation will die tonight" if his demands are not met, raising the prospect of total regime change.
In response, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that any further strikes on "red lines," such as civilian infrastructure, would trigger a retaliatory campaign. In a statement carried by the state news agency IRNA, the IRGC threatened to "deprive the United States and its allies of oil and gas in the region for years" by targeting energy interests across the Middle East.
While the U.S. and Israel have previously targeted air defences and radar sites on Kharg Island, the latest strikes occurred alongside reports of attacks on transport links in central Iran. In a separate briefing, U.S. Vice President JD Vance noted that the current operations do not represent a shift in American strategy, despite the increasingly aggressive rhetoric from the White House.