Trump weighing options to strike Iran’s critical oil hub, UN Ambassador Waltz says
PUBLISHED SUN, MAR 15 2026
KEY POINTS
• Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, said President Donald Trump is “not going to take any options off the table” when it comes to strikes on oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island.
• Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps promised to kill Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
• The Israel Defense Forces said they had “eliminated” two senior Iranian intelligence officials.
• Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran is ready to cooperate with regional neighbors.
Mike Waltz, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Sunday that President Donald Trump is weighing strikes on oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export hub.
“President Trump’s not going to take any options off the table,” Waltz said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Kharg Island has been thrust into the global spotlight because it is regarded as one of Iran’s most sensitive economic targets. The terminal accounts for around 90% of the country’s crude exports and has a loading capacity of roughly 7 million barrels per day.
Trump said on Friday that he directed the U.S. Central Command to carry out a bombing raid on Kharg Island’s military targets for the first time but left the oil infrastructure intact. Trump had threatened further strikes on Iran’s oil export hub, even as he repeatedly urged allies to deploy warships to help the U.S. secure the Strait of Hormuz.
“He deliberately hit the military infrastructure only, for now,” Waltz said on CNN. “And I would certainly think he would maintain that optionality if he wants to take down their energy infrastructure.”
Separately, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi took to social media to say his country is “ready to form a committee with the countries of the region to investigate the targets that were attacked” on Kharg Island.
“Our attacks only target American bases and interests in the region,” he wrote.
In a Telegram post Sunday, Araghchi said: “We have not targeted any civilian or residential areas in the countries of the region so far,” and added, “Occupying Kharg Island would be a bigger mistake than attacking it.”
Trump calls for help to secure Strait of Hormuz
The Trump administration reportedlymay soon announce that a coalition of countries have agreed to join together to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, The Wall Street Journal reported Sunday, citing U.S. officials. It is unclear, however, whether such an operation would start during or after the war.
Still, a number of countries have responded tepidly to Trump’s repeated calls for other nations to send military ships to the Gulf to help the U.S. secure the strait.
In a Truth Social post on Saturday, the president wrote, “Hopefully China, France, Japan, South Korea, the UK, and others, that are affected by this artificial constraint, will send Ships to the area.” Trump later in the day demanded in a separate post that countries that rely on the strait for their energy supply assist in the U.S. and Israeli military operations in the region.
South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Sunday that it “takes note” of the president’s comments and that it would “closely coordinate and carefully review” the situation. The Korea International Trade Association said it gets around 70% of its crude oil and 20% of its liquified natural gas from the Middle East.
Comments by Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul on ARD television on Sunday indicated his country won’t participate in a Strait of Hormuz mission, for now.
“Will we soon be an active part of this conflict? No,” he said adding that “we will only get security for the Strait of Hormuz … if there is a negotiated solution.”
Britain responded that it is ‘intensively’ looking at how to help secure the strait. Asked whether Britain is considering sending minesweepers or mine-hunting drones to the strategic waterway to help shipping return to normal, U.K. Energy Secretary Ed Miliband told Sky News: “We are talking to our allies.”
Miliband told the BBC that “any options that can help to get the strait reopened are being looked at.” He added: “We don’t want a nuclear Iran but ending this conflict is the best and surest way to get the strait reopened.”
In Japan, it is speculated that Trump will ask the U.S. ally to send warships when Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi meets with him on Thursday at the White House….
(https://www.cnbc.com/2026/03/15/iran-war.html
Long article it contintues….