The Trump administration launched military strikes on Iran's strategic Kharg Island early Tuesday, according to a US official, escalating tensions hours before the president's self-imposed deadline for Tehran to accept terms for ending the current crisis over the Strait of Hormuz.The strikes targeted military installations on the island, which serves as Iran's main oil export terminal and handles roughly 90% of the country's crude oil shipments. The action comes as Trump warned that "a whole civilization will die tonight" if Iran does not agree to a deal, language that drew immediate condemnation from lawmakers across the political spectrum.The president set an ultimatum for Iran to respond by Tuesday evening, though administration officials have provided few details about what specific terms Tehran must accept. The deadline follows weeks of escalating military confrontation in the Persian Gulf, where Iranian forces have restricted shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil supplies.Congressional leaders from both parties expressed alarm at the president's rhetoric and questioned whether the administration had proper legal authorization for expanded military action. "The Constitution gives Congress, not the president, the power to declare war," said one senior Democratic senator who asked not to be named. "We need answers about what legal authority he's operating under."Some Republicans also voiced concerns. Congressional sources told reporters that several GOP senators had requested classified briefings on the administration's military plans and legal justification, particularly given the scale of the threatened action.The strikes on Kharg Island mark a significant escalation from previous US operations, which had focused on Iranian naval assets and coastal defenses. Oil industry analysts warn that sustained damage to the island's facilities could remove millions of barrels per day from global markets, compounding the supply crisis already driving record prices.For Americans, the immediate impact has been felt at gas pumps, where prices have surged to levels not seen since the 1970s oil shocks. Heating oil costs have also spiked ahead of what remains of winter in northern states, while airlines have begun adding fuel surcharges that are filtering through to ticket prices.The crisis has also reignited debates about America's Middle East policy that date back multiple administrations. Presidents from both parties have struggled to balance energy security, alliance commitments to Gulf states, and the risks of military entanglement in the region.As Americans like to say, 'all politics is local'—even in the nation's capital. But this crisis is reaching into communities across the country, from military bases where families worry about deployments to Main Street businesses watching their fuel costs soar. The coming hours will test whether diplomacy can still prevail over a widening conflict that neither side appears able to control.The Pentagon declined to provide details on the strikes, citing operational security. Iranian state media has not yet confirmed the attack, though social media reports from the region suggest explosions were heard on the island early Tuesday morning time.