The United States will attack Iran this evening and will before long seize Kharg Island, where Iran’s most important oil terminal and shipping port are located, announces US President Donald Trump on Truth Social on Thursday.

The purpose is to take control of Iran’s oil, just as the United States has already done with Venezuela, Trump writes.

THE UNITED STATES is going to hit Iran (whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Air Defense, and all other forms of Defense, along with most of their Offensive Capability, are GONE!) VERY HARD TONIGHT. At some point in the not-too-distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other points in the Oil Infrastructure, and assume total control over their Oil and Gas Markets, just as we have done in Venezuela, which is working out wonderfully for both Venezuela and the United States. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP

In a telephone conversation with Fox reported by the Jerusalem Post, Trump said that he had always wanted to seize Kharg, but that the United States might “not have the stomach for it”. He himself also appears to have wished to avoid attacking Iranian infrastructure.

The American President continues to alternate between military and diplomatic instruments in the conflict with Iran. The question is whether he will continue with a view to regime change in Tehran.