WASHINGTON (Dunya News/Reuters) - US President Donald Trump signaled the possibility of strong military action against Iran, stating that the United States would strike Iran "very hard" tonight.
In a statement posted on social media, Trump claimed that most of Iran's offensive military capabilities had been eliminated, including its navy, air force, radar systems, air defences, and other defence assets.
He further said that, in the near future, the United States would take control of Kharg Island and other key Iranian oil infrastructure sites, putting Washington in a position to oversee Iran's oil and gas markets.
Drawing a comparison with Venezuela, Trump said that US measures in the country's energy sector had proven beneficial for both the United States and Venezuela, suggesting that a similar model could be adopted in relation to Iran.
Trump's remarks have raised concerns about a further escalation of tensions in the region.
Iran has not yet issued an official response to the statement.
Meanwhile, Efforts to reach an interim deal to end hostilities between Iran and the US have intensified, three Iranian sources and a European official told Reuters on Thursday, despite strikes launched by both sides, as the warring parties discuss how to release frozen Iranian funds.
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The sources said Iran and the United States were still exchanging messages over details of a memorandum of understanding amid the ongoing confrontation between Tehran and Washington.
The Iranian sources said a political understanding had been reached, but some issues remained to be discussed in detail, including a mechanism for the release of tens of billions of dollars of Iranian oil revenues frozen in foreign banks.
"Iran wants $6 billion to $12 billion of its frozen funds to be released to Tehran, while Washington wants to release funds in stages for humanitarian goods and rejects returning funds to Iran outright," said one of the Iranian sources.