The U.S. military conducted strikes on Iran on Wednesday, following President Donald Trump's declaration that "we're going to hit them hard again today." The attacks targeted Iranian air defense, ground control stations, and surveillance radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz, according to U.S. Central Command.
Trump Reveals Oil Seizures
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump announced that the United States has been taking "millions of barrels of oil" out of Iran nightly. "We're taking out millions, which I'm just announcing today for the first time. But we've been taking out millions of barrels of oil. Every night, we took out oil," the president said. He claimed this action has kept oil prices at $85-$90 a barrel instead of $250.
However, Energy Secretary Chris Wright told the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee that he was unaware of such oil seizures. Trump acknowledged the difficulty of keeping the operation secret, stating, "It was very hard for me. I wanted to say it so badly, but I didn't want to ruin it."
Iranian Reservoirs Bombed
The Iranian regime reported that the U.S. bombed two reservoirs supplying water to thousands of people, according to the Associated Press. The strikes came hours after Iran reportedly struck Kuwait, Bahrain, and Jordan.
New Sanctions Announced
The U.S. Treasury Department imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities in China and Hong Kong accused of helping Iran secure weapons. This move escalates economic pressure on Tehran.
Endurance Contest with Iran
Jason Brodsky, policy director at United Against Nuclear Iran, described the situation as "an endurance contest." He noted that the Iranian regime believes it can wait out Trump, but the administration is increasingly targeting Iranian soil. "It really demonstrates the eroded deterrence of the Iranian regime," Brodsky said, adding that Iran's defense industrial base and missile capacity have been weakened.
Trump expressed frustration with stalled negotiations, saying, "They keep playing us for suckers, because you know what? They deal with some very stupid presidents." The U.S. strikes mark a significant shift in military engagement, directly hitting Iranian territory after years of proxy conflicts.
