On April 7, 2026, the United States carried out approximately 50 targeted strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical oil facility in the Persian Gulf that controls roughly 90% of Iranian crude oil exports. The strikes hit military bunkers, storage facilities, air defense systems, and other military targets.
President Trump initially declined to comment on the operation to The Post, but later posted on Truth Social a chilling warning that “a whole civilization will die tonight” if Iran doesn’t reopen the Strait of Hormuz by 8 p.m. ET Tuesday. He framed the moment as a potential turning point for “Complete and Total Regime Change” after “47 years of extortion, corruption, and death.”
Vice President JD Vance stated the strikes did not represent a change in strategy, confirming military targets were hit while emphasizing Trump’s deadline remains in effect.
As the deadline approached, strikes intensified across Iran, targeting railway and road bridges, an airport, and a petrochemical plant. At least two people were killed in a strike on a railway bridge in Kashan.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard responded with threats to target US and allied infrastructure, vowing to deprive the region of oil and gas for years and warning of retaliation “beyond the region” if the US crosses red lines.
