Iran oil storage facility in flames after Trump warned nation would be 'hit very hard'
WASHINGTON (TNND) — President Donald Trump on Saturday warned that he planned to ramp up the war in Iran, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu promised “many surprises” for the next phase of the ongoing conflict.
Within hours, flames were seen above an oil storage facility in Tehran as Israeli warplanes pounded the area.
“Today Iran will be hit very hard!” Trump previously wrote on Truth Social.
In his post, Trump indicated that targets not previously identified could be added in response to what he described as continued “bad behavior” by Tehran.
He also claimed that Iran has “apologized and surrendered” to its Middle Eastern neighbors, adding that the nation pledged to stop its attacks.
“This promise was only made because of the relentless U.S. and Israeli attack,” Trump wrote. “They were looking to take over and rule the Middle East. It is the first time that Iran has ever lost, in thousands of years, to surrounding Middle Eastern countries.”
The Associated Press confirmed that Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian apologized for attacks on “neighboring countries,” even as its missiles and drones flew toward Gulf Arab states and hard-liners asserted that Tehran’s war strategy wouldn’t budge.
“They are bad people,” Trump said of Iranian leaders during a summit with fellow world leaders in Florida on Saturday.
“This had to be done. They were very close to a nuclear weapon,” he added. “They would have had one if they didn’t do our B2 hit, Operation Midnight Hammer, eight months ago.”
Trump also said the U.S. “knocked out” 42 Navy ships in three days, as well destroyed the nation’s telecommunications.
“We’re doing very well in Iran,” he said.
In a separate Truth Social post, Trump said the United Kingdom, “is finally giving serious thought to sending two aircraft carriers to the Middle East.”
“That’s OK, Prime Minister Starmer, we don’t need them any longer — but we will remember,” Trump wrote. “We don’t need people that join Wars after we’ve already won!”
The remarks come amid escalating tensions in the region, as U.S. and Israeli forces continue coordinated operations targeting Iranian-linked military infrastructure.
U.S. forces hit more than 3,000 targets during the first week of Operation Epic Fury, according to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
“And we are not slowing down,” CENTCOM wrote on X late Friday night.
Gulf countries said they have intercepted more ballistic missiles and drones launched from Iran.
Saudi Arabia said it stopped four drones attacking the country’s massive Shaybah oil field, the second attack within hours. Flights in and out of Dubai International Airport were interrupted after passengers were ushered down into train tunnels as several blasts were heard and the alert sounded.
The death toll continued to rise on Saturday, with at least 1,230 people killed in Iran, more than 200 in Lebanon, and around a dozen in Israel, according to officials.
Six U.S. soldiers were killed amid the war. Trump joined grieving families at Dover Air Force Base on Saturday afternoon at the dignified transfer for the soldiers.
The dignified transfer, a ritual that returns the remains of U.S. service members killed in action, is considered one of the most somber duties of any commander in chief.
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EDITOR’S NOTE: The Associated Press contributed to this report.