US President Donald Trump on Thursday again threatened Iran to hit “very hard tonight,” adding that,”We will assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets, much like we have with Venezuela.”

He said on his Truth Social account, “The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT.”

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.”

Likewise, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent pledged to use Iranian funds to pay compensation for damages caused by Tehran to Washington’s Gulf allies, warning of severe economic repercussions for the Islamic Republic’s attacks.

Bessent wrote on the X, “Any damage it inflicts on our allies in the Gulf will be paid for with funds extracted from Iranian Accounts.” He added, “Any tolls paid to the Persian Gulf Strait Authority will be offset by funds extracted from their accounts.”

Meanwhile, Iranian state media reported hearing an explosion off the coast of Sirik, a city in southern Iran near the strategic Strait of Hormuz, but the cause remains unclear.

The US military said on Thursday that it had “completed” its latest wave of strikes against Iran, targeting “Iranian military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran.”

“U.S. Marine Corps, Air Force, and Navy assets fired precision munitions on Iranian targets that posed a threat to U.S. forces and international commercial ships transiting regional waters,” Central Command, which oversees forces in the region, posted on X. It added, “The strikes are in response to Iran’s unwarranted and continued aggression.” (EIR)