U.S. President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Iran, declaring that "an entire civilization will be destroyed tonight," just 12 hours before the deadline for airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure including power plants. U.S. media outlets reported that American forces struck Iranian military facilities on Kharg Island, which handles 90% of Iran's oil exports.
"I don't want a civilization to disappear, but it probably will," Trump wrote on Truth Social. He added, "But now things are different from before, and with a regime change to those who have become wiser and less radicalized, perhaps something revolutionary and amazing could happen." He continued, "Who knows? Tonight, we will find out."
Trump also wrote, "47 years of extortion, corruption, and a history of death will finally come to an end," adding, "May God bless the great people of Iran!"
The remarks are interpreted as a last-minute demand for Iran to adopt a more conciliatory stance, invoking the "extinction of civilization" ahead of U.S. airstrikes on Iranian infrastructure.
Axios, citing sources, reported that U.S. forces attacked military facilities on Kharg Island. Fox News, citing a senior U.S. military official, said American forces conducted dozens of airstrikes on military targets on Kharg Island from late on the night of the 6th through the early morning of the 7th. The Wall Street Journal reported that "U.S. forces struck more than 50 targets on Kharg Island, and oil facilities were not targeted."
The WSJ also reported, citing mediator countries, that "Iran cut off its direct communication channel with the United States after Trump's 'civilization destruction' message," but added that "dialogue with mediators is continuing." Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) issued a statement warning, "If U.S. terrorist forces cross the red line, our response will extend beyond the Middle East region," and that it would "strike the infrastructure of the United States and its partners, ensuring oil and gas supplies to the region are cut off for years to come."
Foreign media outlets analyze that the U.S. and Iran currently face four possible paths: ▲a full-scale airstrike on infrastructure ▲limited airstrikes ▲an additional extension of the deadline ▲a dramatic deal. Bloomberg Economics assessed that limited or broad airstrikes are the most likely scenarios, the possibility of a deadline extension is moderate, and the chance of a ceasefire is low.
International oil prices are trending upward. As of 10:53 a.m. Eastern Time (11:53 p.m. Korea Time on the 8th), West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were trading at around $116 per barrel, up 3.26%, while Brent crude futures were trading in the low $110 range, up 0.7%. U.S. stock markets were trading down approximately 1%.
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