Trump says U.S. military will "intensely bomb" Iran next week, refuses to discuss "seizing islands"

U.S. President Trump said in a phone interview with a Fox News Channel reporter on the 13th that the U.S. military will carry out a “massive airstrike” on Iran next week. He refused to discuss whether the United States is seeking to take over Khark Island, Iran’s oil export hub. In the interview, Trump once again emphasized that Iran’s military power has suffered serious losses, saying it will take years for Iran to rebuild. He said the U.S. military’s current focus is to destroy Iran’s missiles and drones, and that it is currently destroying Iran’s drone manufacturing facilities. Trump also said that when it comes to defending against Iranian drones, the United States does not need Ukraine’s counter-drone technology to help.

According to the U.S. news website Axios, as military actions against Iran continue, the United States is considering taking Khark Island. Located in the Persian Gulf, the island is Iran’s largest crude oil export base and handles 90% of Iran’s national oil exports. When asked during the Fox interview on the 13th, Trump refused to answer the related questions. In the interview, Trump again claimed that if necessary, the U.S. military would escort oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. ( Xinhua News Agency )