President Donald Trump announced that the United States had carried out a heavy air attack on Iran’s island of Charg in the Persian Gulf. He posted the statement on his Truth Social feed: “Just moments ago, US Central Command executed, by my direction, one of the most devastating bombing campaigns in the history of the Middle East”.
According to Trump, all military targets on Charg were destroyed. He called the island “Iran’s crown jewel” and noted that, for reasons of decency, he chose not to strike the island’s oil infrastructure. He warned that should Iran or any other entity hinder the safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, he would promptly reconsider that decision.
Trump further claimed that Iran is incapable of defending itself against US attacks, that it will never possess nuclear weapons or pose a threat to the United States, the Middle East, or the world. He urged the Iranian military and those associated with the “terror regime” to disarm and preserve whatever remains of their country “which is not much”.
He also praised US armaments: “Our weapons are the most powerful and modern the world has ever seen” he wrote, adding that “during my first term and now I have built our military into the deadliest, most powerful, and most effective fighting force in the world”.
The island of Charg lies about 30 km off the mainland coast and hosts about 10,000 residents; nearly all Iranian oil exports transit through it.
