President Donald Trump announced a powerful bombing raid on Iranian military facilities on Kharg Island, a critical energy hub in the Persian Gulf, targeting Iran's 'crown jewel.'
The US has warned Iran of additional strikes after the latter blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow shipping corridor through which a significant portion of the world's oil supply passes.
Trump claimed that all military targets on the island had been destroyed and that the operation was meant to send a warning rather than cripple Iran's energy exports outright.
The president linked the strike to concerns about maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz and warned that the decision not to destroy Iran's oil facilities could change if Tehran threatens shipping routes in the region.
Trump argued that Iran lacks the capability to defend itself against US military action and framed the strike within the broader goal of preventing Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
