Trump threatens to seize Kharg island as U.S. strikes continue
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President Trump speaks to reporters before boarding Air Force One at John F. Kennedy International Airport in New York on June 9, 2026, as he returns to the White House after attending Game 3 of the NBA Finals. Photo: Saul Loeb/AFP via Getty Images
President Trump said the U.S. will hit Iran with new strikes Thursday and threatened to seize Kharg Island, Iran's main oil export hub.
Why it matters: This will be the third consecutive night the U.S. military strikes Iran. U.S. officials say the goal is to push Iran to show more flexibility in the negotiations over its nuclear program.
What he is saying: "The United States will be hitting Iran VERY HARD TONIGHT," Trump wrote on his Truth Social account.
- He added that "at some point in the not too distant future" the U.S. will take over Kharg Island, and other oil facilities in the country "and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets" like it did it Venezuela.
