By Sam Stevenson, Hollie Silverman, and Peter Aitken
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President Donald Trump said Iran wants a deal, which he would reject anyway, as the U.S. confirmed strikes on a key Iranian island and warned oil infrastructure could be targeted next.
In a post early Friday on Truth Social, Trump accused the “Fake News Media” of downplaying U.S. military success against Iran and said Tehran now wants a deal he would not accept.
Trump claimed Iran is “totally defeated” and seeking negotiations, framing recent U.S. military action as a decisive blow while signaling little appetite for compromise.
The statement followed U.S. strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island, a strategically vital hub that handles most of the country’s oil exports.
...
What to Know on Day 15:
- Trump said American forces “obliterated” military sites on the island while deliberately sparing oil infrastructure—for now.
- Hegseth said disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz are “something we are dealing with” and insisted the U.S. will not allow the waterway to remain contested.
- Gen. Dan Caine said the U.S. is targeting Iran’s ability to lay mines in the strait, which normally carries 20% of global oil.
- Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has vowed to keep blocking the strait, rattling energy markets.
- More than 2,000 people have been killed in Iran and Lebanon since the war began; millions have been displaced.
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Mar 14, 2026 at 10:02 PM EDT
Trump Talks Hitting Iran ‘for Fun’ as Admin Criticized Over Tone
The Trump administration is facing criticism over how it has discussed the Iran War and promoted it on social media, using video games and movie clips to seemingly celebrate missile strikes.
In an extensive 30-minute interview with NBC News journalist Kristen Welker, Trump said that, although the U.S. "totally demolished" military capabilities, the U.S. could "hit it just a few more times just for fun."
The Trump administration is known for using online memes to promote its aims, and the Department of Homeland Security has previously come under fire for comparing apprehending migrants to catching Pokémon.
However, the administration has faced increasing backlash for how it has celebrated and discussed military strikes on Iran, including a post on Truth Social of a compilation of clips from popular action action films.
Mar 14, 2026 at 09:05 PM EDT
Trump Casts Fresh Doubts on Health of New Iranian Supreme Leader
President Donald Trump in an interview with NBC News on Saturday evening once again cast doubts on the health and welfare of Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, who earlier this week took over as Iran's Supreme Leader.
Trump spoke for 30 minutes with NBC's Kristen Welker, discussing the complexity of trying to secure the Strait of Hormuz, which has remained effectively closed for a week, sending oil and gas prices skyrocketing.
When asked about making a deal to end the war, Trump said the "terms aren't good enough yet," and he questioned if the new Supreme Leader was "even alive." Khamenei, who replaced his father after the latter's death in the initial joint U.S.-Israeli strikes, has yet to appear on camera, and he issued only a single written statement this week.
"I don’t know if he’s even alive. So far, nobody’s been able to show him," Trump said. "I’m hearing he’s not alive, and if he is, he should do something very smart for his country, and that’s surrender."
However, the president admitted that any news of Khamenei's death would be only "a rumor."
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth on Friday had said that the new Supreme Leader was "wounded and likely disfigured," but Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told MS Now on Saturday that there is no problem with Khamenei.
Mar 14, 2026 at 08:00 PM EDT
Formula 1 Grands Prix in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia Canceled as Iran War Rages
Formula One Group announced the cancellation of grands prix in both Bahrain and Saudi Arabia amid Middle East turmoil stemming from the Iran War.
"The Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grands Prix will not take place in April," the company announced on X. "Due to the ongoing situation in the Middle East the Grands Prix, alongside F2, F3, and F1 Academy rounds, will not take place as scheduled. While alternatives were considered, no substitutions will be made in April."
In a statement posted on the official F1 website, the racing organization said that it made its decision in "full consultation with the FIA and respective promoters."
Mar 14, 2026 at 07:02 PM EDT
Saudi Arabia Claims to Have Shot Down 6 Iranian Missiles, Several Drones
The Saudi Arabian Defense Ministry in posts on X on Saturday said that its forces had intercepted and destroyed six Iranian ballistic missiles, along with several drones.
The Associated Press counted as many as 17 drones according to the Saudi reports, which the outlet noted was a sharp decline from the 65 shot down the previous day.
The ministry did not immediately report any casualties or damage from the attempted attacks.
Mar 14, 2026 at 06:30 PM EDT
Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan talks Iran War diplomacy efforts
Turkey’s powerful foreign minister said Saturday that there is no serious initiative to resume negotiations between the United States and Iran but that he believes Iran is open to back-channel talks.
The comments by Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan to The Associated Press in an exclusive interview came as Ankara is striving to stay out of the widening war in the Middle East.
NATO-member Turkey, which has good relations with both Washington and Tehran, had attempted to mediate a solution between them before the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran two weeks ago, triggering the war.
“The conditions are not very much conducive” to diplomacy now, Fidan said. The Iranians “feel betrayed” because for a second time they were attacked while in active negotiations with the U.S. over their nuclear program, he said, but added, “I think they are open to any sensible back-channel diplomacy.”
Fidan, 57, served as Turkey’s intelligence chief for more than a decade before being appointed foreign minister in 2023.
Mar 14, 2026 at 06:00 PM EDT
Netanyahu Aide To Lead Any Negotiations with Lebanon—Report
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has tapped former ambassador to the U.S. Ron Dermer to lead any possible negotiations with Lebanon, according to CNN.
Citing two Israeli source, CNN reports that Netanyahu is handing the task to Dermer should the need arise, although at this time there is no concrete plan for talks.
“We acknowledge the Lebanese government’s appeal for diplomacy, but they have not shown the capabilities, or the will, to disarm Hezbollah, and stop it from firing towards Israeli communities. Israel wants to finish the job in Lebanon,” one of the Israeli sources said.
Lebanese Justice Minister Adel Nassar on Saturday told CNN's Christiane Amanpour that Hezbollah has given Israel the pretext needed for a war with the country, and that the Iran-backed group does not have the interests of the Lebanese people in mind, which he said is "to stay away of regional conflicts."
Mar 14, 2026 at 05:30 PM EDT
Citi Bank Address Online Rumors of Damage to Operations in Middle East
Citi Bank in a multi-post thread on X addressed rumors circulating online about issues and damage to their offices and operations in the Middle East amid the Iran War.
Reuters earlier this week reported that the bank had to temporarily shut its branches in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and evacuate personnel from the region, but Citi denied the accuracy of those reports.
"The safety of our employees is our number one priority, and we are continuing to take measures to help keep our employees and their families safe," Citi wrote in a post, saying that despite reports the bank "continues to serve clients in the UAE and Bahrain without interruption."
"We have robust contingency and resilience plans in place to ensure business continuity," Citi wrote. "The decision to evacuate three of our buildings and to temporarily close some branches in the UAE is consistent with our commitment to prioritize the safety of our colleagues."
"All UAE and Bahrain-based Citi colleagues are accounted for and are safe," the bank wrote, stressing that it is "not leaving the Middle East, where it has maintained "a continuous presence in the region for over six decades."
Citi Bank maintains a regional headquarters in Riyadh, with key hubs in the UAE.
Mar 14, 2026 at 05:00 PM EDT
IDF Announces Death of Key Iranian Intelligence Figures
The Israeli Defense Forces on Saturday announced the elimination of two people they describe as "senior intelligence officials" that played key roles in the Iranian intelligence community.
Abdollah Jalali-Nasab and Amir Shariat were "close to the leadership of the Iranian terrorist regime," according to the IDF.
Mar 14, 2026 at 04:30 PM EDT
Nikki Haley: Important to Take Time to Honor Americans Lost in Iran War
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley on Saturday wrote in a post on X that it was important to "take a moment to honor the 13 brave American service members we've lost."
"May we keep their families in our prayers, asking that God bring them comfort and peace during such a heartbreaking loss," Haley wrote. "We also pray for the wounded, that they make a full and speedy recovery, and for the men and women still deployed—that God watches over them and brings them home safely to their loved ones."
The number of American service members killed in the Iran War nearly doubled this week after six members aboard a U.S. KC-135 refueling aircraft that crashed in western Iraq were confirmed dead. The crash was not caused by hostile or friendly fire, according to U.S. Central Command.
Mar 14, 2026 at 04:02 PM EDT
Drones Take Out Kuwait International Airport Radar System
Kuwait's Civil Aviation Authority on Saturday said in a statement that a drone attack on Saturday evening local time struck the nation's international airport, damaging the airport's radar system, according to The Associated Press.
However, the airport has not operated flights since the start of the war.
Mar 14, 2026 at 03:39 PM EDT
IRGC Warns U.S. to Evacuate All American ‘Industries’ In Region
In a post on the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)'s Telegram board, the group, traditionally viewed as one of the most loyal institutions to the supreme leader, ordered the U.S. to remove "all American industries in the region."
"We warn the American regime to evacuate all American industries in the region, and we ask the people in the areas surrounding industrial factories in which Americans hold shares to evacuate those areas so that they will not be harmed," the IRGC wrote, according to a translation.
Founded in 1979, the IRGC is an elite force that manages Iran's ballistic missile and nuclear programs.
Mar 14, 2026 at 03:10 PM EDT
UN Report Suggests Iran Executions ‘May Amount to Crimes Against Humanity’
A report from the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has determined that the "unprecedented scale" of institutionalized repression may amount to crimes against humanity and will likely worsen as the Iran War continues.
The report analyzed material and evidence gathered between April 2025 and February 18 2026, which is 10 days before the U.S. and Israel initiated joint strikes against Iran.
"In an unprecedented and appalling surge in the death penalty by the end of 2025, Iran conducted at least 1,639 reported executions," the office wrote in a statement earlier this week. "Of these, almost half were for drug-related offences, and many were based on "confessions" extracted through torture."
"Credible reports indicate that many are at serious risk of torture, ill-treatment and enforced disappearances, while several detainees are reportedly facing expedited death penalty proceedings in violation of international fair trial and due process rights and the right to life."
U.S. President Donald Trump had previously claimed that Tehran had ordered the execution of over 800 protesters, which Iran has flatly denied.
The U.N.'s Human Rights office continues to gather evidence on the "current context," looking at impact on civilians and the manner in which "existing patterns of repression and human rights violations identified by the Mission are now being, or are at risk of being, aggravated by the armed conflict."
Mar 14, 2026 at 02:30 PM EDT
Iran’s top diplomat says the Strait of Hormuz is open—with exceptions
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with MS Now on Saturday announced that the Strait of Hormuz remains open to all except “tankers and ships belonging to our enemies, to those who are attacking us and their allies."
Araghchi also dismissed claims that Iran’s new supreme leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is seriously injured, according to The Associated Press.
“They will see soon that there is no problem with the new supreme leader,” Araghchi said. “He is performing his duties according to the constitution, and he will continue to do that.”
Mar 14, 2026 at 02:15 PM EDT
Iranian president insists business continues as usual despite ‘unjust war’
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said government services have continued despite what he described as an “imposed and unjust war,” now in its fifteenth day.
In a post on social media, Pezeshkian said transportation, communications and other sectors have faced challenges but that there has been “no serious disruption in service delivery to the people,” crediting government officials for maintaining operations.
“With the companionship of you noble people of Iran, we will overcome these conditions and rebuild everything they have destroyed even better than before,” he wrote.
Mar 14, 2026 at 02:00 PM EDT
Iranian official calls Ukraine ‘legitimate target’ for Israeli drone help
The head of Iran’s parliamentary National Security Commission warned in a social media post on Saturday that Ukraine could become a “legitimate target” for Iran after accusing the Eastern European nation of providing Israel "drone support."
Newsweek has reached out to Ukraine's foreign ministry for comment via email on Saturday.
The U.S. and Israel launched coordinated strikes on Iran on February 28, which notably killed the country’s longtime Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Since then, Israel and U.S. forces have carried out sustained bombardments across the country, including strikes on military facilities, energy infrastructure, and civilians.
CNN estimates at least 3,000 people have been killed across the region since the war began, and the United Nations (U.N.) refugee agency says more than 3.2 million people have been displaced inside Iran. The war has expanded beyond Iran, with Iran hitting Gulf states and Israel striking Lebanon.
Mar 14, 2026 at 01:43 PM EDT
US Embassy in Iraq Urges Americans To Leave ‘Immediately’
In a post on X, the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad has warned Americans to leave Iraq "immediately" as Iran and its "aligned terrorist militias pose a major threat to public safety in Iraq."
"Attacks have occurred against U.S. citizens, U.S. interests, and critical infrastructure," the post stated. "These groups have targeted U.S. diplomatic facilities, U.S. companies, and U.S.-managed energy infrastructure, and have threatened to continue targeting them."
"Iran-aligned terrorist militias have also attacked hotels frequented by foreigners and other U.S.-associated facilities throughout Iraq, including in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq," the embassy warned. "Americans face a risk of kidnapping, and U.S. individuals have been directly targeted. Iran-aligned terrorist militias may hinder the Iraqi authorities’ ability to respond effectively in emergencies."
The embassy then provided options for those looking to leave, including commercial flights from neighboring Jordan and Kuwait.
Mar 14, 2026 at 01:30 PM EDT
Trump Rebuffs Ceasefire Efforts With All Eyes on Hormuz Strait
President Donald Trump on Saturday said he has rebuffed efforts by allies in the Middle East to start diplomatic talks with Iran to end the war, according to Reuters.
However, that lack of interest appears mutual: Reuters cited three sources familiar with the push from Mideast allies, but also two Iranian sources who say that Tehran has no interest in broaching the subject of peace at this time even as several countries make appeals to each side, both of whom appear settled in for an extended conflict.
The lack of interest in any peace talks will distress allies across the region after the U.S. carried out strikes on Kharg Island, where Iran refines around 90 percent of its crude oil, and Iran continues to hit oil refining facilities in regional neighbors.
The United Arab Emirates' Fujairah, a major hub for crude oil exports, suspended some operations after a drone attack and fire, according to industry and trade sources.
Mar 14, 2026 at 01:30 PM EDT
Democrats’ chances of taking control of the Senate have surged since Iran war
A prediction market tracking control of the US Senate in 2026 has shifted, with traders now giving Democrats a narrow edge.
On Polymarket, contracts pricing which party will control the Senate after the November 2026 elections showed Democrats at 51 percent and Republicans at 50 percent on Saturday, a change from earlier pricing before the war.
Since the start of the U.S. and Israel's military campaign against Iran on February 28, the Democrats' odds of taking the upper chamber have risen 10 points from 41 percent to 51 percent.
The market, which has seen more than $860,000 in trading volume, has moved in recent days as traders reassess the political fallout from the conflict and its impact on energy prices and key Senate races.
Polymarket resolves outcomes based on which party controls a majority of Senate seats after the election, using certified results and credible reporting.
Prediction markets are platforms where people trade contracts based on future events, with prices reflecting the collective belief about the likelihood of each outcome.
Prediction markets are often useful because they aggregate information from many participants into a single price, which updates in real time as new information emerges.
Research shows they frequently outperform chance and, in some cases, rival polls at identifying the most likely outcome, especially close to an election.
Mar 14, 2026 at 01:15 PM EDT
UN chief calls for peace in Beirut
UN Secretary‑General António Guterres, speaking during a visit to Beirut on Saturday, said there is no military solution to the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah and urged a renewed focus on diplomacy.
Guterres called for the full implementation of UN resolutions and appealed to the international community to intensify efforts to bring the fighting to an end.
Mar 14, 2026 at 01:00 PM EDT
Israel warns civilian vehicles on Lebanon’s coast could be at risk
Israel’s military has issued a warning that vehicles travelling along Lebanon’s coastal highway could be targeted, saying trucks in the area may be at risk.
The coastal road is Lebanon’s main transport route, prompting concern that the warning could disrupt civilian movement or deter people from travelling or fleeing areas affected by Israeli strikes.
Israeli army spokesperson Avichay Adraee alleged that Hezbollah is using civilian trucks along the coast to transport weapons and conceal missile launches, Al Jazeera reported.
He said the vehicles are made to appear civilian to blend in with local traffic, but did not provide evidence to support the claim.
Mar 14, 2026 at 12:45 PM EDT
UN investigates after peacekeeper injured at southern Lebanon post
A UN peacekeeper was lightly injured in southern Lebanon after apparent fire from a heavy machine gun sparked a blaze at a UN position near the village of Mais al‑Jabal.
The peacekeeper was hurt while moving to a shelter, according to UNIFIL spokeswoman Kandice Ardiel, who said the incident is under investigation.
She also reminded all parties of their obligation to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers at all times.
UN positions in southern Lebanon have been struck multiple times during exchanges of fire between Israel and Hezbollah, including an incident on March 6 in which three peacekeepers were wounded at a UNIFIL base.
Mar 14, 2026 at 12:30 PM EDT
Trump vows to bomb ‘the hell out of’ the Strait of Hormuz shoreline
President Donald Trump has threatened further military action to keep the Strait of Hormuz open, saying the US will escalate strikes if Iran continues efforts to disrupt shipping.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the United States is working with other countries to keep the waterway “open and safe,” adding that “many Countries” affected by Iran’s actions would send warships alongside US forces.
Trump claimed the US has already destroyed “100 percent of Iran’s Military capability,” but warned that Iran could still carry out limited attacks in the strait using drones, mines or short‑range missiles.
“In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water,” Trump wrote, adding that the strait would be reopened “one way or the other.”
Mar 14, 2026 at 12:15 PM EDT
Fears grow in Lebanon over Israeli attacks: ‘there is a very heavy sadness’
Israeli strikes on Lebanon have displaced around 800,000 people as those dealing with the fallout of a growing humanitarian crisis express their fears for the coming days.
“Every minute the situation is getting worse,” said Aline Kamakian, who is leading World Central Kitchen’s (WCK) response in Lebanon. From eight kitchens across the country, the group has served over 200,000 meals in shelters and communities while hosting uprooted families.
The death toll in Lebanon is mounting, with the country's health ministry saying Friday that eight people had been killed in a strike in the southern coastal city of Sidon, with the number expected to rise. This takes the number of dead in the country to 773, including over 100 children, according to Lebanese authorities, cited by the Associated Press.
The speed of the displacement in Lebanon has been head-spinning, with Kamakian saying that the WCK is trying to find shelter and meals for ever swelling numbers. “They're sleeping on the street without anything,” she said. “50 percent of them have lost everything because every day the bombardment is getting harsher.”
Mar 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM EDT
Iran warns it could target UAE after US strike on Kharg Island
Iran’s military has threatened to strike cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), claiming the US used locations there to launch its attack on Kharg Island, a key Iranian economic hub.
In a statement carried by Iranian state media, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) said it considers it a “legitimate right” to target “ports, docks, and hideouts” it claims were used by US forces inside some UAE cities.
The IRGC, which has been proscribed by the U.S. as a terrorist organization, did not name specific locations.
“[The IRGC] considers it its legitimate right to defend its national sovereignty and territory by hitting and targeting the origin of the American enemy missiles in shipping ports, docks, and hideouts of American soldiers sheltered in some cities in the UAE,” the IRGC said in a statement on Iranian state media, per Al Jazeera.
The warning came a day after President Donald Trump said the US “obliterated” military targets on Kharg Island while deliberately avoiding oil infrastructure, and warned Iran against interfering with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Mar 14, 2026 at 11:45 AM EDT
UNHCR says up to 3.2 million Iranians are displaced amid war
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), also known as the UN Refugee Agency, said that up to 3.2 million Iranians have been displaced as the Iran War entered its third week.
In a report issued Thursday, UNHCR said that between 600,000 and 1 million Iranian households were temporarily displaced.
A bulk of those households have been displaced after fleeing from Tehran and other urban areas. Many of these families have relocated to northern and rural area, according to the report.
The war has also impacted refugee families who were already in the country, many from Afghanistan, the report said.
"With its longstanding presence in Iran – including operational reception areas, helplines and ongoing support services – UNHCR is adapting its response to growing needs, working with national authorities and partners to assess emerging requirements and strengthen preparedness as population movements increase," the organization said in the report.
"UNHCR emphasizes the urgent need to protect civilians, maintain humanitarian access, and ensure borders remain open to those seeking safety, in line with international obligations."
Mar 14, 2026 at 11:30 AM EDT
Death toll estimate rises to 3,000 in Iran War
Over 3,000 people have been killed in the Middle East since the war began two weeks ago, according to estimates by CNN citing multiple officials and reports.
Iran's ambassador to the UN said Tuesday that more than 1,300 people had been killed.
The Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA) said that 1,298 civilians and 1,122 military personnel have died since the war began, in a report Friday. Included in that death toll was 205 children.
Lebanon said at least 773 people have been killed, including 103 children, CNN reported.
The U.S. has lost 13 service members since the war began, with six service members killed in Kuwait and another six killed when a refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq.
Mar 14, 2026 at 11:15 AM EDT
Trump disputes reports tanker planes were destroyed in Saudi Arabia
President Donald Trump has pushed back against media reports claiming five tanker aircraft were struck and destroyed at an airport in Saudi Arabia.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said headlines about the planes being “struck down” were “intentionally misleading,” arguing the aircraft were not destroyed and remain operational.
Trump said the base was hit “a few days ago,” but claimed four of the five planes suffered “virtually no damage” and are already back in service.
He said a fifth aircraft had “slightly more damage” but “will be in the air shortly.”
“None were destroyed, or close to that, as the Fake News said in headlines,” Trump wrote.
He singled out The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal, accusing them and other outlets of wanting the US “to lose the War,” and described their reporting as “the exact opposite of the actual facts.”
Trump added that the media were “sick and demented people that have no idea the damage they cause the United States of America,” before pointing to his 2024 election victory as evidence that voters “understand what is happening far better than the Fake News Media.”
Mar 14, 2026 at 11:00 AM EDT
Iranian lawmaker says Ukraine’s involvement makes country ‘lawful target for Iran’
Ibrahim Azizi, head of the Iranian parliament’s National Security Commission, said in a post on X Saturday that Ukraine's involvement in the Iran war has now made the country a "a legitimate and lawful target for Iran."
"Ukraine's failed and occupied action in aiding the Zionist regime with drone support turns all of Ukraine's soil, by virtue of Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, into a legitimate and lawful target for Iran," Azizi said.
"By providing drone support to the Israeli regime, failed Ukraine has effectively become involved in the War and, under Article 51 of the United Nations Charter, has turned its entire territory into a legitimate target for Iran," he reiterated in a second post.
Ukraine joined the fight last week, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying he had sent teams specializing in air defense to Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar. The three nations are among the dozen countries targeted by Iranian attacks since February 28.
Mar 14, 2026 at 10:30 AM EDT
Trump: countries ‘sending war ships’ to Strait of Hormuz
President Donald Trump said in a post on Truth Social Saturday that multiple countries "will be sending war ships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open."
"Many Countries, especially those who are affected by Iran’s attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending War Ships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe," Trump said.
"We have already destroyed 100% of Iran’s Military capability, but it’s easy for them to send a drone or two, drop a mine, or deliver a close range missile somewhere along, or in, this Waterway, no matter how badly defeated they are," Trump continued.
"Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a Nation that has been totally decapitated," Trump said, adding, "In the meantime, the United States will be bombing the hell out of the shoreline, and continually shooting Iranian Boats and Ships out of the water."
"One way or the other, we will soon get the Hormuz Strait OPEN, SAFE, and FREE!" he concluded.
Mar 14, 2026 at 10:07 AM EDT
Trump Says Iran Wants A Deal As He Threatens Oil Infrastructure
"Moments ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” he wrote on his social media platform shortly before posting “unclassified” black and white aerial footage of the strikes.
Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, the speaker of Iran’s parliament, said Thursday that any attack on islands along the country’s southern maritime frontier would prompt Iran to “abandon all restraint,” underscoring how critical the areas are to its economy and security.
Trump warned that restraint would not last if Iran continues to interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic important route and chokepoint for roughly a fifth of the world’s traded oil.
Iran has effectively closed the strait in recent days and continued missile and drone attacks across the region, even as U.S. and Israeli warplanes strike military targets inside Iran.
An American official also confirmed that additional U.S. forces are being sent to the Middle East, including 2,500 Marines and an amphibious assault ship, nearly two weeks into the conflict, as first reported by the Wall Street Journal.
Military imagery shows the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit and the USS Tripoli operating out of Japan after several days in the Pacific.
Commercial satellite tracking later placed the Tripoli near Taiwan, indicating it remains more than a week from the waters off Iran.
Earlier this week, the Navy confirmed a dozen ships were operating in the Arabian Sea, including the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and eight destroyers.
Should the Tripoli arrive, it would be the second-largest ship in the region.
While overall troop numbers have not been made public, Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—one of the largest U.S. installations in the Middle East—typically hosts roughly 8,000 American troops.
Iranian officials have warned that any attack on oil infrastructure would prompt retaliation against U.S.-linked energy assets across the region, underscoring the risk of further escalation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said in Washington that U.S. forces have hit more than 15,000 enemy targets, with the pace exceeding 1,000 strikes a day since the war began.
He also played down concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, telling reporters: “We have been dealing with it and don’t need to worry about it.”
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