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US President Donald Trump has escalated his rhetoric against Iran, threatening to hit the country "very hard" and take over the strategic oil hub of Kharg Island. The threats come amid reports that indirect talks between the US and Iran have intensified in recent days, despite an increasingly tense situation in the Gulf.

Coverage Comparison

ABC Australia reported that Trump said the US would hit Iran "very hard" and threatened to take over Kharg Island in the "not too distant future," citing Iranian sources and Western officials who said indirect talks between the two sides have intensified despite a worsening of hostilities. The report also noted that the head of Iran's parliamentary national security committee, Ebrahim Azizi, warned that any "uncalculated" US move would receive a stronger and more painful response.

Al Jazeera reported that the US and Iran concluded a day of high-level talks in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar. According to the outlet, Trump threatened to attack Iran over its support of Hezbollah, while Tehran's top negotiator, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, cautioned the US to be careful with its rhetoric.

The Jerusalem Post, citing Fox News correspondent Trey Yingst, reported that Trump claimed to have spoken directly with Iranian officials who asked him to stop strikes on the country after the US initiated what it called "self-defense strikes" against Iran. Trump reportedly said the conversation took place in the Situation Room with Vice President JD Vance and senior advisers. The report said Trump indicated the bombing campaign would stop shortly if Iran agreed to a deal proposed by US negotiators, but threatened to "bomb the s**t out of them tomorrow night" if Iran refused. Trump also asserted that Israel was not involved in the strikes, which reportedly targeted Iranian air defenses and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz.

In a separate report, the Jerusalem Post detailed Trump's warnings to Iran to stop supporting proxies in Lebanon, with a Truth Social post saying: "Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble." Trump warned, "If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again." The report also cited a Fox News account of an overnight conversation in which Trump told Iranian officials, "You close it, and you won't have a country," referring to the Strait of Hormuz. Trump added, "We may take over the Strait, if we have to," and said he would "blow the s* out of them." The report also said Trump floated the idea of letting Syria fight Hezbollah instead of Israel, believing Syrian forces would be more precise than the IDF.

TASS — English reported Azizi's comments to the Fars agency, in which he said that any reckless and miscalculated action by the US would meet "an even harsher, more painful, and decisive response that will make them regret it." The report also noted Trump's statement that US forces would continue striking Iranian territory on the night of June 12 and would be taking Kharg Island and Iran's oil infrastructure facilities.

Key Claims

  • Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard" and take over Kharg Island, as reported by ABC Australia and TASS — English.
  • Indirect talks between the US and Iran have intensified in recent days, according to ABC Australia, citing Iranian sources and Western officials.
  • The US and Iran concluded high-level talks in Switzerland, mediated by Pakistan and Qatar, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Trump threatened to attack Iran over its support of Hezbollah, according to Al Jazeera and the Jerusalem Post.
  • Iranian negotiator Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned the US to be careful with its rhetoric, as reported by Al Jazeera.
  • Trump claimed he spoke directly with Iranian officials who asked him to stop strikes, a claim the Jerusalem Post reported via Fox News, noting he said the bombing would stop if Iran agreed to a deal.
  • Trump threatened to "bomb the s**t out of them tomorrow night" if Iran refused the deal, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Trump asserted that Israel was not involved in the strikes, which reportedly targeted Iranian air defenses and radar sites near the Strait of Hormuz, according to the Jerusalem Post.
  • Ebrahim Azizi warned that any reckless US action would meet a harsh, painful, and decisive response, as reported by ABC Australia and TASS — English.
  • Trump threatened to hit Iran "very hard again" if it did not stop supporting proxies in Lebanon, as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • Trump warned Iran not to close the Strait of Hormuz, saying "You close it, and you won't have a country," as reported by the Jerusalem Post.
  • The UN is calling for the situation in Lebanon to be resolved as Israel and Hezbollah continue to clash in the country's south, as reported by ABC Australia.

Perspectives

United States (President Donald Trump)

Trump has threatened severe military action against Iran, including strikes and the potential seizure of Kharg Island and the Strait of Hormuz, while also claiming direct communication with Iranian officials and offering a deal to halt bombing if Iran agrees.

Iran (Ebrahim Azizi, Head of Parliamentary National Security Committee)

Azizi has warned that any reckless or miscalculated US action will meet a harsher, more painful, and decisive response, referencing Iran's historical united front during wartime.

Iran (Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, Top Negotiator)

Ghalibaf has cautioned the US to be careful with its rhetoric, following high-level talks in Switzerland mediated by Pakistan and Qatar.