US-Israel-Iran War: The conflict involving the United States, Israel and Iran entered its 15th day on March 14, with no signs of slowing down. US President Donald Trump said that the American forces bombed military sites on Kharg Island, a key hub for Iran's oil exports. While oil infrastructure was spared this time, Trump warned that it could be targeted next if Tehran continues to disrupt the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
In the Gulf, the United Arab Emirates remains on high alert, successfully intercepting multiple missiles and drones.
US Bombs Kharg Island: Trump
Trump on Friday said that American forces had struck and destroyed military targets on Iran's main oil hub of Kharg Island. While oil infrastructure was spared this time, Trump warned that it could be targeted next if Iran continues attacks that have effectively halted most ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping chokepoint.
In a social media post, Trump wrote, "the US military totally obliterated every MILITARY target on Kharg while leaving oil infrastructure intact However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision".
ALSO READ: Mojtaba Khamenei's Health: Iran's Foreign Minister Denies US Claims Of Severe Injury, Disfigurement
Iran Targets UAE's Fujairah Oil Terminal
Some oil-loading operations at the United Arab Emirates' Fujairah, a major bunkering hub and crude export terminal outside the Strait of Hormuz, were suspended on Saturday after a drone attack and fire, Reuters reported. According to the Emirates Media Office, the fire broke out after debris fell during the interception of a drone.
This came just hours after the US bombed military sites on Iran's Kharg Island. In response, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) warned that US interests in the United Arab Emirates, including ports, docks and military locations, were 'legitimate targets'.
Trump Vows To Reopen Strait Of Hromuz
The US President on Saturday urged multiple countries, including China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom, to send warships to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and safe for shipping.
"Many countries, especially those that are affected by Iran's attempted closure of the Hormuz Strait, will be sending warships, in conjunction with the United States of America, to keep the Strait open and safe," Trump wrote in a post on Truth Social.
"Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send ships to the area so that the Hormuz Strait will no longer be a threat by a nation that has been totally decapitated," Trump added.
Iran Denies Reports Of New Supreme Leader's Injury
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi on Saturday dismissed reports suggesting that Iran's new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, had been seriously injured or disfigured. In a TVY interview, Araqchi stated that there was no issue with Mojtaba's health.
This comes a day after US Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth claimed that Mojtaba was "wounded and likely disfigured", further questioning why he has not released any video statement yet.
"We know the new so-called (not-so) Supreme Leader is wounded and likely disfigured. He put out a statement yesterday, a weak one actually, but there was no voice and there was no video. It was a written statement," Hegseth said.