US President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the US would launch new airstrikes on Iran overnight for what would be the third night in a row and would take Iran’s oil infrastructure hub Kharg Island — though he later questioned whether his citizens could “stomach” such a maneuver.

His comments came despite reports that efforts to finalize an agreement between Washington and Iran were going well. A diplomatic source told CNN that talks were still on track after two nights of US strikes on Iran and retaliatory missile and drone fire from Iran on Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. The attacks came after an Iranian drone downed a US helicopter near the Strait of Hormuz on Monday.

In a post on Truth Social on Thursday, Trump declared that the US would be “hitting Iran… VERY HARD TONIGHT.”

“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,” Trump wrote.

But in a later interview with Fox News, Trump questioned whether Americans would support the capture of Kharg Island.

“We are talking to them and all, but you know, look, my preference has always been – take Kharg Island… my preference would be that. I don’t know that America has the stomach for it,” he said in an interview on Fox News. “I think they’d like to see us come home.”

Iran is “dying to make a deal” and “is being decimated,” Trump claimed. “They’re really in submission,” he added. “They just don’t know it yet.”

It was not clear whether the threat was genuine or if it was another tactic by the US president aimed at coaxing Iran to make concessions at the negotiating table. Trump has repeatedly made dire threats to Iran, only to later back off.

Asked by Fox if the US would start attacking power plants and bridges as he has previously threatened, he replied, “Yeah, but I’d rather not do it, because once you do that, the people suffer.”

Trump: "My preference has always been to take Kharg Island. I don't know that America has the stomach for it, to be honest with it. You'd make a fortune." pic.twitter.com/5ub1HK4WMH — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 11, 2026

Trump: "My preference has always been to take Kharg Island. I don't know that America has the stomach for it, to be honest with it. You'd make a fortune." pic.twitter.com/5ub1HK4WMH

— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) June 11, 2026

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will convene top ministers and aides for a security discussion Wednesday evening, the office of one of the ministers told The Times of Israel.

Release of frozen Iranian funds still being ironed out

Earlier on Thursday, three Iranian sources and a European confirmed to Reuters that efforts to reach a preliminary deal had intensified, and that the US and Iran were exchanging messages on the details of a memorandum of understanding.

The sources noted, however, that some issues have to be discussed in detail, including a mechanism for the release of billions of dollars in frozen Iranian........

© The Times of Israel