Trump: US ‘Locked, Loaded’ to Destroy Iran’s ‘Crown Jewel’ ‘If We Want’/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ President Donald Trump warned the United States could destroy Iran’s major oil export hub on Kharg Island if tensions escalate. The warning followed recent U.S. strikes under Operation Epic Fury targeting Iranian military facilities. Trump suggested the threat could pressure Iran into negotiations.
Trump Kharg Island Strike Warning Quick Looks
- Trump says U.S. is “locked and loaded” to destroy Kharg Island.
- Island is Iran’s largest oil export terminal.
- U.S. struck the island earlier during Operation Epic Fury.
- More than 90 Iranian military targets were reportedly hit.
- Oil infrastructure was left intact during the attack.
- Trump says the U.S. could strike the oil facilities quickly.
- Iran says it will continue fighting and reject negotiations.
- Taking the island could cripple Iran’s oil revenue.
Deep Look: Trump: US ‘Locked, Loaded’ to Destroy Iran’s ‘Crown Jewel’ ‘If We Want’
President Donald Trump warned that the United States could quickly destroy Iran’s key oil export hub on Kharg Island if the conflict between Washington and Tehran escalates further.
Trump said the U.S. military already has the capability prepared to strike the island’s oil infrastructure within minutes.
“We can do that on five minutes’ notice,” Trump said. “We have it all locked and loaded and ready to go if we want to do it.”
However, Trump said he has so far chosen not to authorize the destruction of the facility, suggesting the threat itself could pressure Iran into negotiations.
“We chose not to do it. I chose not to do it again,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”
Kharg Island: Iran’s Oil Lifeline
Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf, is widely considered the centerpiece of Iran’s oil export system.
Often referred to as the country’s “crown jewel,” the island handles a large share of Iran’s crude oil shipments to global markets. Destroying the facility could significantly reduce Tehran’s ability to generate revenue from energy exports.
The island was targeted in recent U.S. military operations but the oil infrastructure itself was deliberately spared.
Operation Epic Fury Strikes Iran Targets
U.S. military forces under U.S. Central Command launched a major attack on Kharg Island on Friday as part of Operation Epic Fury, a campaign targeting Iranian military capabilities.
According to U.S. officials, the strikes hit more than 90 military-related targets across the island.
Those targets reportedly included:
- Naval mine storage facilities
- Missile bunkers
- Military infrastructure used to threaten shipping
Despite the scale of the attack, American forces avoided damaging the oil export pipelines and storage infrastructure.
Strategy to Pressure Iran
Trump indicated that leaving Iran’s oil infrastructure intact was a deliberate decision intended to preserve leverage in the conflict.
The president said Tehran may eventually seek negotiations once it feels sufficient pressure.
“I think they want to negotiate badly,” Trump told reporters. “But they’re not ready to do what they have to do.”
He suggested that Iran may ultimately come to the negotiating table but has not yet accepted the conditions Washington expects.
Iran Rejects Calls for Negotiations
Iranian officials have rejected the suggestion that they are seeking talks or a ceasefire.
Abbas Araghchi said in a television interview that Iran intends to continue defending itself as long as the conflict continues.
“We are ready to defend ourselves as long as it takes,” Araghchi said.
He described the war as illegal and insisted Iran would continue resisting U.S. and Israeli attacks.
Possible Plan to Seize Kharg Island
Some U.S. officials have also reportedly discussed the possibility of seizing Kharg Island outright.
Such a move could effectively cut off a major portion of Iran’s oil exports, delivering what one official described as a potential “economic knockout” against the Iranian government.
That step could significantly escalate the conflict and potentially trigger Iranian retaliatory attacks against energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf, including facilities in Saudi Arabia and other regional producers.
Officials say the administration is still weighing the risks and potential benefits of such an operation.
“There are big risks. There are big rewards,” one official said, adding that the president has not yet made a decision.
Rising Stakes in the Iran Conflict
The war between the United States, Israel, and Iran has already disrupted global energy markets and raised fears of a wider regional conflict.
Attacks on shipping routes and oil infrastructure have contributed to rising energy prices and growing economic uncertainty worldwide.
As tensions continue to escalate, Kharg Island has emerged as one of the most strategically important targets in the conflict.
For now, Trump says the United States has the capability to strike the island’s oil facilities at any time — but has chosen to hold back while watching how Iran responds.
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