US hits 50 military targets on Iran's Kharg Island; Trump deadline hours away

The US military on Tuesday hit 50 military targets on Kharg Island, Iran's strategic oil hub, according to The Wall Street Journal. The strikes, which were first reported by Iran's semi-official Mehr News Agency, came hours before a deadline set by US President Donald Trump for the Islamic Republic to strike a ceasefire deal ends at 8 pm ET on Tuesday (5:30 am IST on Wednesday).

Quoting sources, Mehr reported that there was no disruption to oil facilities at Kharg Island and that the situation was under control. No damage to oil infrastructure has been reported so far, Mehr said, citing sources.

The strikes came a day after Trump said he was “very upset” with Iran for rejecting his ceasefire plan and warned that Tehran would “pay a big price” if it failed to reach a deal. While Iran called for a permanent end to the conflict, now in its sixth week, under broader conditions, Trump indicated there would be serious consequences if no agreement is reached.

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a warning following the US strikes on Kharg Island, saying that 'restraint is over', sparking fresh concerns of a severe disruption to regional crude supplies, metro.uk reported.

The IRGC warned that it could turn energy infrastructure linked to the US and its allies "into ashes", threatening to disrupt oil and gas flows across the region “for years.” The warning came after Trump said last weekend that he was considering whether US forces could seize the island.

Last month, the US struck military targets on Kharg Island, targeting military installations. The strikes destroyed naval mine storage and missile bunkers, while oil infrastructure was largely spared.

Kharg Island serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal, handling up to 90 per cent of its crude shipments and offering storage capacity of around 30 million barrels. Located about 26 km off Iran’s coast and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg is often dubbed the “Forbidden Island” due to its isolation and heavy security presence.

On February 28, the US and Israel launched military strikes on Iran to curb its expanding nuclear programme, killing several top political and military leaders, including then-Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Iran retaliated with attacks on US bases across the Gulf, effectively shut down the Strait of Hormuz and targeting Israeli and US-linked ships passing through the narrow chokepoint.

TRUMP'S EXTENDING DEADLINES

Trump has repeatedly threatened Iran with a full-scale strike on its energy infrastructure if it fails to reopen the Strait of Hormuz within the stipulated deadline. His rhetoric has been sharp and uncompromising, but he has been easy with his timelines.

Trump has now extended the deadline three times, with the latest set to expire on April 7 (Tuesday). The initial ultimatum was for five days, followed by a 10-day extension late last month. That deadline was due to end on Monday before his most recent delay, stretching what began as a 48-hour warning into a 408-hour window.

Trump had earlier threatened strikes on Kharg Island’s oil infrastructure unless attacks on vessels in the Strait of Hormuz were halted. On Sunday, he went on an abusive rant on Iran, saying Tehran should reopen the Strait of Hormuz soon and set a 48-hour deadline for Tehran to come to the negotiating table and agree to a ceasefire deal.

TRUMP SLAMS IRAN

On Monday, Trump said he was “very upset” with Iran and warned that Tehran would “pay a big price” if it failed to reach a deal, signalling a tougher stance as his self-imposed deadline nears.

His comments followed Iran’s rejection of a US ceasefire proposal, with its response conveyed via Pakistan, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency. Tehran instead emphasised the need for a “permanent end to the war” rather than a temporary truce.

Iran’s proposal outlined a 10-point framework, including ending regional conflicts, ensuring safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, lifting sanctions and securing commitments for post-war reconstruction.