Washington: US President Donald Trump stated that although much of Iran's strategic Kharg Island was destroyed in a US airstrike, he may order further attacks. US-allied Arab states in the region have reported disruptions to their petroleum industries amid Iranian retaliatory attacks. According to Radio Free Europe Radio Liberty, Trump informed NBC News that the US strikes had "totally demolished" most of Kharg Island, which is located a couple of dozen kilometers off the Iranian mainland. However, he noted, "we hit it a few more times just for fun." Trump initially claimed that US forces had "totally obliterated" Iranian military targets on the island while sparing the oil infrastructure, but threatened to target those sites if Iran interfered with traffic in the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials maintained that crude exports continued to flow uninterrupted from the Kharg Island terminal despite what Trump described as one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East history. Meanwhile, Iranian medi a, specifically the Fars news agency, reported a deadly strike inside the country, stating that at least 15 people were killed when a missile hit a factory in Isfahan. The US and Israeli militaries did not immediately comment on this report. The strike on Kharg Island marked a significant development in the conflict, which began on February 28 following large-scale US-Israeli strikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities. Kharg Island is Iran's main oil export outlet, responsible for about 90 percent of its oil exports. It is located approximately 24 kilometers off the Iranian coast and about 480 kilometers north of the Strait of Hormuz. Trump expressed surprise at Tehran's decision to attack other Middle Eastern countries in retaliation for the US-Israeli strikes on Iran. He claimed that Tehran is seeking a deal to end the conflict but that the terms offered do not meet his demands. "Iran wants to make a deal, and I don't want to make it because the terms aren't good enough yet," he said, without spec ifying what terms he was seeking. He added that any agreement would need to be solid and include a commitment from Tehran to abandon any nuclear ambitions. Trump also attempted to alleviate concerns about rising energy costs, stating that gas prices would decrease soon after the war in Iran concludes. Despite Iran's vow to keep the Strait of Hormuz closed and predictions that oil prices could reach $200, Trump suggested that prices would eventually drop lower than before. US regional allies have also reported attacks on petroleum-industry sites, raising fears of significant disruptions to global energy supplies. In the semiautonomous Iraqi Kurdistan region, authorities reported that operations at the Lanaz refinery in Irbil remained suspended following a drone strike, although a resulting fire was contained. Iran threatened to target facilities of US companies in the region if its energy facilities were attacked, with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi quoted by state television. Iran accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) of being the origin for the Kharg Island attack by US forces and warned UAE residents to evacuate ports, docks, and "American hideouts." UAE officials denied that the US military launched the attack from bases within the country but stated their right to take defensive action. Presidential adviser Anwar Gargash explained that the UAE prioritized reason and logic, seeking a diplomatic resolution to the conflict between Washington and Tehran. The UAE Consulate in the autonomous Kurdish region of Iraq was attacked for the second time within a week, resulting in injuries to two security personnel and damage to the building. Meanwhile, oil-loading operations were suspended in the UAE's Fujairah emirate, a key global ship-refueling hub, after a drone interception led to a large fire. In Abu Dhabi, the Ruwais refinery was shut down by ADNOC following a fire within the complex caused by a drone strike. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) claimed responsibility for a missile strike on the US military base in Saudi Arabia, alleging it was used to service fighter jets and store fuel tankers. Saudi Arabia's Defense Ministry intercepted and destroyed 10 drones over Riyadh and eastern regions early the following day. Additionally, Kuwait's civil aviation authority reported drone attacks targeting its international airport, causing damage to the radar system and forcing the closure of its airspace.
