Trump Says He Is Surprised Iran Targeted Gulf Countries
Former President Donald Trump said he was “surprised” Iran has targeted Gulf countries amid the escalating Middle East crisis, and claimed the United States “decimated” Iran’s Kharg Island. His comments came as regional energy infrastructure has been hit and new warnings and counter-warnings have sharpened concerns about a widening conflict.
Trump’s remarks were reported by multiple outlets as fighting and threats continued to ripple across the Gulf. In separate reporting, he said Iran was ready to negotiate a ceasefire but that he was not ready to make a deal, according to NBC News.
The developments center on the Gulf region, including the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic maritime chokepoint for global energy shipments. The Guardian reported Iran has threatened to escalate the war after Trump said “many countries” would send warships to the strait. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty reported Trump threatened more Kharg attacks as Gulf Arab states’ energy infrastructure was hit.
Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub, has been a focal point in Trump’s public statements. In comments cited by 9News, Trump said he was surprised Iran targeted other Middle Eastern countries after Iran claimed U.S. strikes were launched from the United Arab Emirates. Trump has also described U.S. military actions in sweeping terms, including the claim that the U.S. “decimated” the island.
The clash of statements highlights the risk of further escalation involving multiple countries in the Gulf. Any expansion of hostilities that draws in Gulf Arab states, or affects shipping lanes such as the Strait of Hormuz, can rapidly raise the stakes for regional security and global energy markets.
The situation is also reverberating in the United States. The Guardian reported California officials said no imminent Iran threat was found after an FBI alert, reflecting heightened vigilance by U.S. authorities as the conflict unfolds overseas.
What happens next will be driven by whether threats turn into additional strikes and whether diplomatic channels move toward a ceasefire framework. Trump’s comments about a possible ceasefire, paired with his insistence that he is not ready to make a deal, signal a hard-line posture even as negotiations are discussed in public.
In the near term, attention is expected to remain on the Gulf, where attacks on energy infrastructure and security moves around major shipping routes could intensify tensions quickly. Officials and observers will also watch for further statements from Iran and regional governments, including the UAE, as allegations about the origin of strikes add another layer to the crisis.
With competing claims, active threats, and critical infrastructure at risk, the crisis is entering a phase where each new strike or announcement could carry outsized consequences.
