US Strikes Kharg Island (90% of Iran Oil Exports); Trump Issues Apocalyptic Deadline: 'A Whole Civilization Will Die Tonight'

US forces struck Kharg Island overnight into April 7 — the offshore terminal that handles approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil export capacity — as part of a new escalation phase in Operation Epic Fury (Day 39). Dozens of military targets on the island were struck in coordinated waves. Iran's railway bridge in Kashan was also struck, killing at least 2 people. Iranian Red Crescent reported strikes on a residential area in Tehran. Trump issued a new ultimatum with an 8:00 p.m. ET deadline: Iran must fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz or the United States would 'destroy every bridge and power plant in Iran within four hours.' Trump posted to Truth Social: 'A whole civilization will die tonight, never to be brought back again.' Iran's deputy foreign minister called on Iranian youth to form human chains around power plants and critical infrastructure in a show of defiance. Iran's military dismissed Trump's threats as 'delusional.' Iran responded by announcing its restraint on targeting regional oil infrastructure (Gulf Arab states' facilities) 'would no longer apply,' raising the specter of broader regional energy war. Oil prices surged on the Kharg Island strikes and the threat to regional energy infrastructure. Iran had countered the ceasefire proposal with a 10-point permanent ceasefire framework — rejected by Trump. The situation represented the most acute escalation phase of the Iran war.