President Donald Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth have introduced a new communications strategy regarding U.S. military operations against Iran, stating their intentions openly. On Thursday, Trump announced, "The United States will be hitting Iran... VERY HARD TONIGHT," following similar statements made the previous day. This approach of announcing military actions is uncommon for the U.S. military, which typically keeps operational details confidential to protect personnel.
On Wednesday, Hegseth remarked, "Central Command will be busy tonight because President Trump said we will be hitting Iran hard, and we will be." Trump also indicated plans to target Kharg Island, a key oil export point for Iran, which is located in the Persian Gulf. He stated that the U.S. aims to take control of oil and gas markets in the region.
Kharg Island handles approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports. While U.S. forces have previously targeted military infrastructure on the island, major strikes against its oil facilities have been avoided due to concerns about global economic impacts and potential escalation.
Later on Thursday, Trump suggested that discussions with Iranian leadership had reached a high level, leading to a reconsideration of the planned strikes. However, Iranian officials have not confirmed any significant diplomatic progress.
Joe Costa, a former senior Pentagon official, noted that threatening to strike Kharg Island is a tactic to gain leverage in negotiations, given its importance to Iran's economy. Seth Jones from the Center for Strategic and International Studies pointed out that while Kharg Island is not critical for reopening the Strait of Hormuz, controlling it could provide the U.S. with negotiation leverage due to Iran's dependence on its oil exports.
Trump acknowledged the risks of military operations, stating that they could result in U.S. casualties. House Speaker Mike Johnson expressed skepticism regarding Trump's statements about military actions. Since the onset of the conflict, Iran has been responsible for the deaths of seven American service members, with additional casualties occurring in a refueling accident.