Israel Iran War Day 16 News Updates: Trump threatens more strikes on Kharg Island as Strait of Hormuz tensions rise. No sign of ceasefire
US President Donald Trump warned that further strikes could target Iran’s key oil export hub at Kharg Island, while Tehran signalled it would intensify its retaliation and ruled out any ceasefire until attacks on its territory stop.
Here’s what we know so far:
Donald Trump News: US Threatens More Strikes on Kharg Island
Trump said recent US strikes had “totally demolished” much of Kharg Island, a strategic location for Iran’s oil exports. Speaking to NBC News, the president warned that more attacks could follow.
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“We may hit it a few more times just for fun,” Trump said, adding that although Tehran appeared open to negotiations, the proposed terms were “not good enough yet”.
The comments marked a significant escalation in rhetoric from the White House. Earlier statements from Washington had suggested that US operations were aimed only at military facilities on the island.
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Sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that the US administration had already rejected mediation efforts by Middle Eastern allies seeking to open talks aimed at ending the war.
Middle East Conflict Latest News: Strait of Hormuz Security in Focus
The conflict has raised serious concerns over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important shipping routes for oil and gas.
Trump urged major economies to help secure the waterway.
“The countries of the world that receive oil through the Hormuz Strait must take care of that passage, and we will help, a lot,” he wrote on social media, suggesting nations such as China, France, Japan, South Korea and Britain could send warships to protect shipping.
However, none of those countries immediately confirmed they would deploy naval forces.
French officials said efforts were underway to build an international coalition to secure the strait once the security situation stabilises.
Iran Israel Tensions: Tehran Rejects Ceasefire Calls
Iran signalled defiance as the war stretched into its third week. Officials said any ceasefire would only be considered after US and Israeli airstrikes stop.
Iranian forces continued attacks across the region. A drone strike disrupted operations at a major energy hub in the United Arab Emirates, while the United States warned its citizens to leave Iraq after a missile attack near the US embassy in Baghdad.
Since the war began with US and Israeli airstrikes on Iran on February 28, more than 2,000 people have reportedly been killed, most of them in Iran.
Tehran Attack: Airstrike Hits Industrial Facility in Isfahan
Iranian media reported that an airstrike struck a refrigerator and heater factory in the city of Isfahan, killing at least 15 people.
Meanwhile, Iran warned civilians in the United Arab Emirates to stay away from ports, docks and locations linked to US forces, claiming those areas had been used to launch attacks on Iranian targets.
The UAE denied that strikes on Kharg Island had been launched from its territory.
Iran Retaliation News: UAE Energy Hub Disrupted
The escalating conflict also affected energy infrastructure in the Gulf.
A drone attack near the port of Fujairah in the UAE caused a fire after debris from an intercepted drone fell on the facility, according to local authorities. Civil defence teams worked to contain the blaze.
Fujairah is a major global ship-refuelling hub and a key outlet for Murban crude oil, which accounts for roughly 1 million barrels per day, or about 1% of global demand.
Some oil-loading operations were temporarily suspended as a precaution following the incident.
US Iran Israel News: Tehran Accuses US of Launching Attacks from UAE
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi accused the United States of launching attacks on Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island using rocket systems fired from locations in the UAE.
According to Iranian state media, Araqchi said rockets from the HIMARS system were launched from areas including Ras Al Khaimah and locations near Dubai.
He warned that Iran would respond but said its forces would attempt to avoid civilian areas.
Iranian military officials also warned that locations used to launch US missiles could become legitimate targets.
Dubai News: Iran Warns Residents to Avoid Ports and US-linked Facilities
Iran issued warnings for residents in the UAE to avoid areas near major ports, including Jebel Ali in Dubai, Khalifa Port in Abu Dhabi and Fujairah Port.
Iranian commanders said these locations could become targets if they were used for military operations against Iran.
Authorities in the UAE denied involvement in launching attacks on Iranian territory.
Baghdad Attack: US Embassy Targeted Amid Rising Regional Tensions
The war’s impact spread further into Iraq when a drone struck the US embassy complex in Baghdad on Saturday.
Security officials said the attack occurred shortly after airstrikes in Baghdad killed three members of the Iran-aligned group Kataeb Hezbollah.
The US embassy issued an emergency alert urging American citizens to leave Iraq immediately, citing the ongoing risk of missiles, rockets and drone attacks.
Several Iran-backed militias operating under the umbrella group Islamic Resistance in Iraq have claimed responsibility for repeated attacks on US bases across the region since the war began.
Kharg Island Damage: Iran Plays Down Impact of US Strikes
Despite US claims of heavy damage, Iranian officials said strikes on Kharg Island mainly hit military installations rather than energy infrastructure.
The US military said it targeted more than 90 locations, including missile storage sites, naval mine facilities and other military positions.
Iran has warned that any attacks on its energy infrastructure would trigger retaliation, raising concerns that the conflict could further disrupt global oil supplies.
Inputs from agencies
