U.S. President Donald Trump announced that all military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub, have been completely destroyed. As nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports depend on the island, the attack is being viewed as a major blow to Iran’s economy. A retired U.S. Army officer told CNN that the global oil market could spiral out of control following the strike.

In a statement issued Friday night, Trump warned that if Tehran continues to obstruct shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the island’s oil infrastructure will also be directly targeted. Former U.S. Brigadier General Mark Kimmitt said the attack has significantly increased the risk of war, noting that the U.S. is now targeting Iran’s economic core rather than just its military or government.

CNN, citing Pentagon sources, reported that a U.S. Marine Expeditionary Unit is being deployed to the Middle East to address escalating tensions. Iran’s state media, however, claimed that no oil-related infrastructure on Kharg Island was damaged.

A reported US attack on Iran’s Kharg Island has intensified concerns over rising global oil prices. Energy economist and lecturer Ed Hirs of the University of Houston told Al Jazeera that the strike could disrupt Iran’s oil exports. He noted that although former US President Donald Trump claimed he did not target oil infrastructure, Kharg Island is small, making it unlikely that export facilities escaped damage.

Hirs warned that if the assault permanently damages Iran’s export capacity and if oil production or exports from Iraq and Kuwait also halt, prices could climb further, especially if the conflict continues for weeks or months. He added that such a scenario would severely impact Asian economies, which are major importers of crude and refined petroleum products.

Earlier, Trump said on social media that US forces carried out one of the most powerful bombing operations in Middle East history, claiming all military targets on Kharg Island were destroyed.

Iran’s Unified Combatant Command has warned that any attack on its oil and energy infrastructure will trigger immediate retaliation against energy facilities owned by US-linked oil companies in the region. The statement followed a recent assault on Kharg Island, a key terminal responsible for nearly 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

According to a declaration from Iran’s Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, any strike on Iranian energy sites would lead to the destruction of US-affiliated oil and energy infrastructure. The warning came shortly after the US president announced that American forces had destroyed military targets on Kharg Island, though he stated that oil facilities were not targeted.

The US president also cautioned that if Iran or any other actor attempted to disrupt free and safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, the decision not to attack oil infrastructure could be reconsidered. Earlier, the US administration had shown reluctance to strike Iranian energy facilities, even indirectly condemning an Israeli attack on a major oil depot in Tehran.

US President Donald Trump claimed that American forces carried out one of the most powerful airstrikes in Middle Eastern history, completely destroying all military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island near the Strait of Hormuz. In a post on his social media platform Truth Social, Trump stated that the US Central Command executed the operation but deliberately avoided damaging the island’s oil infrastructure. He warned that this restraint could be reconsidered if Iran or others interfered with the free and safe passage of ships through the strait.

Iran’s Fars news agency reported that black smoke was seen rising from Kharg Island following the attack, but the Iranian military remained intact and continued operations from the site. The agency added that more than 15 explosions were heard during the assault, confirming that no oil facilities were damaged.

The situation underscores heightened tensions in the region, though both sides have provided differing accounts of the strike’s impact and aftermath.

Thousands of Iranians gathered in Tehran on Friday for the annual al-Quds Day rally in support of Palestinians, even as explosions struck the capital during the event. Iranian state television reported that at least one person was killed after multiple blasts were heard near Ferdowsi Square. The cause of the explosions was not immediately clear, though they followed an Israeli warning for people to leave the area before a planned strike. State media said the victim, a woman, died from shrapnel caused by a US-Israeli air strike.

The rally took place a day after Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, vowed to continue resisting the ongoing US-Israeli assault that has killed at least 1,444 people and wounded 18,551 since February 28, according to Iran’s Ministry of Health. President Masoud Pezeshkian and senior officials attended the demonstration, where participants expressed defiance and solidarity with Palestinians. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced that Iranian forces, in coordination with Hezbollah, had launched missiles and drones at Israel using Kheibar Shekan missiles.

The United States and Israel have shown no signs of halting their offensive despite international calls for de-escalation, while Iran has responded by targeting regional sites and closing the Strait of Hormuz.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the United States may launch its largest wave of airstrikes on Iran tonight. Speaking at a press conference in Arlington, Virginia, on Friday, he said the day could mark the most extensive US attacks over Tehran and across Iran. Hegseth claimed that the United States and Israel have already carried out strikes on nearly 15,000 Iranian targets.

He described the ongoing operations as a major achievement, asserting that the United States is advancing according to its plan to destroy Iran’s key military capabilities. The statement follows recent remarks by former US President Donald Trump, who warned of tougher actions against Iran in an interview with Fox News last week.

Hegseth’s comments about possible large-scale attacks tonight have further heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran, signaling a potential escalation in the conflict, according to the report sourced from Al Jazeera.

Iranian authorities have arrested a 37-year-old man accused of selling internet access through Starlink terminals, according to the state news agency ISNA. The man was detained in the city of Shiraz and allegedly built a network across several provinces to provide unrestricted internet connections using Starlink equipment. Officials did not disclose the exact date of the arrest.

The report noted that Iran has faced near-total internet blackouts since the start of the current conflict, prompting many citizens to seek alternative access through SpaceX’s Starlink service. However, the use of Starlink in Iran is officially banned, and such activities are treated as criminal offenses.

Earlier in January, following anti-government protests, Iranian authorities imposed an 18-day nationwide internet shutdown, reflecting the government’s continued control over online communications.

Iran is exporting significantly more oil than usual despite the ongoing disruption in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Associated Press journalist Inzamam Rashid. He reported that around 1,000 ships remain anchored near the strait’s entrance, including about 200 oil tankers. Rashid told Al Jazeera that the strait is one of the world’s busiest waterways, typically carrying about 20 percent of global oil supply, or roughly 20 million barrels per day. However, he noted that this normal flow has not been observed for about nine days, and most of the few tankers that managed to pass were used for Iranian oil exports.

The Joint Maritime Information Center has warned that the threat level in the waters surrounding the Strait of Hormuz is currently at a “critical” stage. The organization issued this alert based on its latest risk assessment. Rashid emphasized that under these conditions, Iran is exporting “much more oil” than before.

The situation underscores heightened tension in a key global energy corridor, with maritime security risks remaining severe.

US President Donald Trump has said that Iran’s government will eventually be removed from power by its own people, though not right away. Speaking to Fox News Radio, Trump stated that the Iranian population faces major obstacles, particularly the lack of weapons, but he believes the change will happen in time. His comments came after recent military strikes by the United States and Israel on Iran.

According to the report, more than 1,300 people have been killed in the attacks so far. Despite the conflict, there have been no major protests or signs of rebellion against Iran’s ruling system since the war began. Trump suggested that while the process may take time, public resistance could grow in the future.

The situation remains tense as the region continues to experience military and humanitarian fallout from the strikes, with other nations such as Russia reportedly sending aid to Iran.

Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations announced that it has sent 13 tons of humanitarian aid to Iran through Azerbaijan, according to Anadolu Agency. The ministry said in a statement on Thursday that the shipment includes medicines, which were first delivered to Azerbaijan and will then be handed over to representatives of the Iranian government. The aid was sent under the directive of President Vladimir Putin.

The ministry added that the medicines were transported to Azerbaijan using its air transport system before being transferred to Iran’s authorized representatives. The delivery comes amid heightened regional tensions following major attacks by the United States and Israel on February 28 that killed more than 1,300 people, including Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. In response, Tehran reportedly launched drone and missile strikes on Israel and U.S. military bases in Gulf countries.

The aid delivery underscores Russia’s continued engagement with Iran during a period of escalating conflict and instability in the region.

Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Supreme National Security Council Secretary Ali Larijani participated in the annual Al-Quds Day rally held in Tehran, according to Al Jazeera. State media photos showed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Chief Justice Gholam-Hossein Mohseni-Ejei also attending the event. The rally took place amid ongoing conflict and heightened security concerns.

The participation of Iran’s top officials came shortly after U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Iranian leaders had gone underground out of fear. Their public appearance at the rally directly contradicted that assertion. Al-Quds Day is observed annually to express solidarity with Palestinians and opposition to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. The term “Al-Quds” refers to Jerusalem in Arabic.

During the gathering, multiple explosions were reportedly heard nearby, resulting in one death, according to the source. No further details about the cause or perpetrators of the explosions were provided.

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced that the United States would again launch the highest number of attacks on Iran. He made the statement during a Pentagon press conference on Friday, held to brief on the latest developments in the Iran war. Hegseth said Iran’s leadership was in hiding and that US capabilities were continuing to grow. He added that President Trump would determine the pace and timing of the conflict.

During the same briefing, General Dan Kane, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, remarked that the day would be the busiest for US forces. The announcement came as tensions between Washington and Tehran remained high, with both sides engaged in ongoing military operations.

The statements suggest that the United States is preparing for intensified military action in Iran, though no specific timeline or operational details were disclosed during the briefing.

Iran’s Health Ministry has reported that at least 1,444 people have been killed and 18,551 injured in attacks carried out by the United States and Israel across the country. The ministry released the figures in a statement published on Friday, according to Al Jazeera.

The attacks began on February 28 and have continued across multiple Iranian cities, including the capital Tehran. The strikes have reportedly targeted both military and civilian areas, damaging schools, hospitals, and other infrastructure. The ongoing assaults have caused widespread destruction and civilian casualties, according to the ministry’s statement.

The report did not include details about the reasons behind the attacks or any international responses. The situation remains critical as the strikes continue to affect major urban centers in Iran.

Iran has initiated the 44th phase of its military campaign named 'Operation True Promise-4', according to a statement from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). The operation reportedly targets Israel-controlled areas and US military installations across West Asia. Conducted on the 23rd night of Ramadan, the strikes focused on northern Israeli cities including Haifa and Hadera.

The IRGC stated that the offensive was carried out in memory of key resistance leaders such as former Iranian General Qasem Soleimani, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Palestinian leader Ismail Haniyeh, among others. The statement also claimed that several US military facilities in the region were targeted, including the headquarters of the US Fifth Fleet in Manama, Bahrain.

As of now, neither Israel nor the United States has issued any official response or confirmed details regarding casualties or damage resulting from the attacks.

A Turkish-owned vessel has crossed the Strait of Hormuz with permission from Iran, according to Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu, as reported by Al Jazeera. Local media said one of 15 Turkish-owned ships waiting near Iran received authorization to pass through the strategic waterway. The Turkish government had been in contact with Tehran regarding the matter.

Uraloglu told the Haberturk news outlet that the permitted ship had previously used an Iranian port. The crossing occurred amid heightened regional tensions following threats from Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps, which warned that any vessel transiting the strait could be targeted in retaliation for attacks by the United States and Israel.

The Strait of Hormuz is a critical global shipping route for oil transport, and the Iranian threats have raised international concerns about potential disruptions to global energy supplies.