ISLAMABAD: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has confirmed that the United States conducted massive strikes on Kharg Island using facilities in the United Arab Emirates, marking a significant escalation in the war that has now entered its third week.

The revelation came in interviews with international media outlets including MS NOW, where Araghchi detailed that the attacks targeted Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island overnight. He specified that HIMARS short-range rocket systems were employed, launched from two locations in the UAE: Ras Al Khaimah and an area very close to Dubai.

Kharg Island remains Iran’s primary oil export terminal, handling approximately 90 percent of the country’s crude oil shipments before the conflict intensified. The island’s strategic position in the Persian Gulf places it near the critical Strait of Hormuz, through which about one-fifth of global oil supplies transit.

United States Central Command reported that the strikes destroyed more than 90 military targets on Kharg Island, including naval mine storage facilities, missile bunkers, air defense systems, a naval base, and airport infrastructure. President Donald Trump described the operation as one of the most powerful bombing raids in the region’s history, claiming military sites were “totally obliterated” while deliberately sparing oil infrastructure.

Trump had previously threatened to target Kharg’s oil facilities if Iran continued to disrupt shipping lanes in the Strait of Hormuz. In response to the strikes, Iranian officials maintained that oil exports continued normally, downplaying damage to energy operations.

Araghchi condemned the use of neighboring territory for the attacks, describing it as “absolutely unacceptable” and highly dangerous due to the involvement of populated areas. He warned that Iran would respond firmly to any further assaults on its energy infrastructure, potentially targeting facilities linked to American companies or those with US shares in the broader region.

The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued explicit threats, declaring ports, docks, and military sites in the UAE as “legitimate targets.” Evacuation warnings were directed at residents near Jebel Ali port in Dubai, Khalifa port in Abu Dhabi, and Fujairah port, urging civilians to leave areas allegedly sheltering US forces.

Shortly after these warnings, reports emerged of a fire at Fujairah’s oil hub, attributed to debris from an intercepted Iranian drone. Oil-loading operations faced temporary disruptions at the site, a key global ship-refueling center, heightening concerns over energy supply chains.

The conflict, now in its third week, stems from broader US-Israel actions against Iran, with tit-for-tat strikes raising fears of wider regional involvement. Iran has urged Gulf neighbors to expel foreign military presence, arguing that the American security umbrella has proven unreliable.

Araghchi emphasized that Iran tracked the launches and possessed clear evidence of their origin from UAE soil. He stated Iran would exercise caution to avoid civilian areas in any retaliation, while reaffirming the right to defend national sovereignty.

Global oil markets have reacted sharply, with prices rising over 40 percent since the war’s onset due to threats to the Strait of Hormuz. Shipping delays and increased insurance costs have compounded economic pressures.

The United States has not independently confirmed or denied the launch origins claimed by Iran, though officials maintain the strikes were precision operations aimed solely at military assets. No evidence has been publicly provided by Tehran to substantiate the accusations against the UAE.

This development risks straining relations between Iran and its Gulf neighbors, particularly the UAE, which hosts significant US military cooperation. The escalation underscores the fragile balance in the Persian Gulf, where energy infrastructure and strategic waterways remain central flashpoints.

As the situation unfolds, international observers warn of potential further disruptions to global energy supplies if the cycle of retaliation continues unchecked.