US-Iran Conflict Escalates as Oil, Gulf Targets Threatened

TEHRAN: (Web Desk) – Iran’s armed forces warned they could destroy oil and energy facilities connected to the United States after former US President Donald Trump claimed American forces had bombed military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub. In a statement carried by Iranian media, the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters said any companies cooperating with Washington could see their energy infrastructure reduced to ashes if Iranian facilities continue to be attacked.

Trump earlier stated that US strikes had “obliterated” military sites on Kharg Island and warned that oil installations could also be targeted if Iran failed to allow safe passage for ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial waterway responsible for about one-fifth of global crude oil and LNG shipments. The island, located roughly 30 kilometers off Iran’s coast, processes nearly 90 percent of the country’s crude exports.

The escalating conflict has rattled international markets, pushing oil prices above $100 per barrel and raising fears of supply disruptions. Maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has sharply declined as security concerns grow, increasing worries about inflation and energy shortages worldwide.

Meanwhile, Iranian officials said at least 112 people were killed and nearly 1,000 injured in US-Israeli strikes in Iran’s Kurdistan province. Local authorities reported dozens remain hospitalized, including several in critical condition. The attacks form part of a broader campaign targeting Iranian military and strategic facilities.

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Tensions have also spread across the Gulf. Smoke was seen rising near Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates, where a major oil port and storage hub is located. Iranian forces warned residents in Gulf port areas to evacuate, saying American military positions in regional ports could be legitimate targets in retaliation.

In a separate development, Iran’s army chief Amir Hatami vowed revenge after the reported killing of 104 crew members aboard the Iranian destroyer IRIS Dena in the Indian Ocean. He described the strike as an attack on sailors returning from a peaceful mission.

Washington has also intensified pressure on Tehran’s leadership. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed Iran’s new supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei had been wounded during the ongoing military campaign and questioned his ability to lead the country following nearly two weeks of strikes.

Elsewhere in the region, explosions were reported in Baghdad, where strikes targeted the Iran-aligned militia Kataeb Hezbollah. In Doha, authorities said air defenses intercepted two incoming missiles as Iran expanded retaliatory attacks across Gulf states. A drone also struck the United States Embassy in Baghdad, sending smoke into the air above the diplomatic compound.

The war has also affected neighboring Lebanon, where Israeli strikes reportedly killed medical workers at a health facility. Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem said the group was prepared for a prolonged confrontation with Israel as the conflict spreads across the Middle East.