Markets 
Weather 
Military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island – the loading site for most of the Islamic Republic’s oil exports – were “totally obliterated” by US airstrikes during a historic bombing raid in the Persian Gulf, President Trump announced Friday.
“Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
The island, located about 16 miles off the Iranian coast, is one-third the size of Manhattan and controls 90% of Iranian crude oil exports.
Trump said the island’s oil infrastructure was not targeted but may be hit in future strikes, if the Iranian regime doesn’t allow ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our Weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the World has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island,” the president said.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” Trump warned.
The two-week conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury, hadn’t impacted the island — with Iran exporting more fuel than before the war started, according to the Wall Street Journal – until Friday’s strikes.
The US and Israel are both believed to be keen on seizing Kharg at some point in the war, The Post reported earlier this week.
Trump, however, downplayed his interest in taking control of the island in an interview with Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade that aired Friday morning.
“It’s not high on the list, but it’s one of so many different things, and I can change my mind in seconds,” the president said.
Trump chided the “Fox & Friends” co-host for even bringing up the question – hours before he attacked the island.
“Let’s say I was going to do it, or let’s say I wasn’t going to do it. What would I tell you? ‘Oh, yes, Brian, I’m thinking about doing it, let me let you know what time and when it’ll take place.’… It’s sort of a foolish question,” he said.
In his announcement of the bombing run, Trump boasted that Iran “has NO ability to defend anything” the US military chooses to attack.
“During my First Term, and currently, I rebuilt our Military into the Most Lethal, Powerful, and Effective Force, by far, anywhere in the World,” the president said. “Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack — There is nothing they can do about it!”
He maintained that Iran “will NEVER have a nuclear weapon, nor will it have the ability to threaten the United States of America, the Middle East or, for that matter, the World!”
Trump further called on members of Iran’s military and anyone with ties to the regime to “lay down their arms, and save what’s left of their country, which isn’t much!”
Read the full article here
