U.S. Strikes Iran's Key Oil Island, Plans Tanker Escorts

President Donald Trump announced that U.S. forces have destroyed military targets on Iran's Kharg Island. This island is the main hub for the country's crucial crude oil exports. In a statement, Trump said the targets were "obliterated." He also declared that the U.S. Navy will begin escorting commercial tankers through the nearby Strait of Hormuz "very soon." The narrow Strait of Hormuz is a vital global shipping lane. Much of the world's seaborne oil exports passes through this waterway. The U.S. military actions represent a significant escalation in regional tensions. No immediate reaction from Iranian authorities was available.