Iran's top negotiator issued a stark warning Thursday after President Donald Trump renewed threats to strike the country and seize Kharg Island, a critical hub for Iran's oil exports. The warning comes as tensions between the two nations escalate following a series of military exchanges.
"Wrong strategies and impulsive decisions will reset the entire board for the worse, explode energy infrastructure and markets and create an endless quagmire that you will be stuck in for years. You will see a different Iran," Iran's Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf wrote in a social media post. Qalibaf has been leading the Iranian delegation during ongoing negotiations between the two sides amid a shaky ceasefire period.
The renewed hostilities began after the Iranian military shot down an Army helicopter earlier this week. In response, U.S. Central Command (Centcom) announced Wednesday evening that the U.S. military conducted "self-defense strikes" targeting Iranian surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites.
Trump escalated the rhetoric Thursday morning, vowing to hit Iran "VERY HARD TONIGHT" in a Truth Social post. He added, "At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America."
Kharg Island, a tiny island in the Persian Gulf, is a vital asset for Iran, handling approximately 90 percent of the country's crude exports. Any attempt to seize it would deal a severe blow to Iran's economy and global oil markets.
Ebrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian Parliament's National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, vowed a "firm, crushing, painful and regret-inducing response" if the U.S. military attempts to take Kharg Island. In an interview with Iranian newspaper Hamshahri on Thursday, Azizi said Tehran is "fully prepared" for an attack.
"The level of readiness of our armed forces there is so high that I believe one of the things that may become evident in the future is precisely this maximum level of military preparedness on the island," Azizi said. "With all their capabilities and strength, our armed forces stand ready."
The developments come amid a broader context of U.S.-Iran tensions. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth recently warned of strong and clear U.S. strikes on Iran, and Trump has previously warned that Iran will pay the price after stalled talks and new strikes. The situation remains volatile, with both sides signaling a readiness for further confrontation.
Analysts warn that any military action on Kharg Island could disrupt global oil supplies, sending energy prices soaring. The island's strategic importance makes it a flashpoint in the broader conflict, with Iran signaling it will not back down.
