US President Donald Trump has reportedly warned of possible further American action against Kharg Island, a small Iranian territory housing a major oil terminal critical to the country's economy. In an interview with the Financial Times, Trump allegedly stated he wants to "take" Iran's oil and is considering seizing the island, though he added such an operation "would mean we had to be there for a while". He purportedly claimed, "Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options," and suggested Iranian defenses are weak, saying, "I don't think they have any defence. We could take it very easily." This comes amid heightened tensions, with the US having already conducted airstrikes on military targets on the island in March.
Kharg Island is a vital economic lifeline for Iran, handling approximately 90% of its crude oil exports through pipelines from the mainland. US Central Command (Centcom) stated that on March 13, US forces struck over 90 Iranian military targets on the island while "preserving the oil infrastructure". Trump described the raid as "one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East", but claimed he chose not to destroy oil facilities "for reasons of decency". Iranian state media reported no damage to oil infrastructure, with semi-official sources confirming attacks targeted air defenses and naval bases.
The Iranian government has reportedly reinforced defenses on Kharg Island in recent weeks, deploying additional military personnel, air defense systems, and laying anti-personnel and anti-armor mines in surrounding waters. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iranian forces are "waiting for American soldiers" and would "rain fire" on any invasion attempt. Security analysts note that a US seizure of the island would be logistically challenging, requiring movement over considerable distances, and could significantly escalate the conflict, potentially cutting off the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' economic resources.
Seizing Kharg Island would allow the US regime to choke off Iran's oil exports, providing leverage to compel Tehran to keep the Strait of Hormuz open and offering a platform for attacks on the mainland. However, such action risks sending global oil prices soaring and could provoke Iran to expand its drone and missile attacks on regional targets, including critical infrastructure like desalination plants in Gulf Arab states. Iran retains the capacity to launch large numbers of low-cost drones, posing a persistent threat to stability.
US Central Command announced the arrival of an additional 3,500 sailors and marines in the Middle East as part of a unit led by the warship USS Tripoli, fueling speculation about potential ground operations. The Pentagon and White House have declined to comment on specific troop deployments but have repeatedly emphasized that military options remain available. This buildup underscores the deepening crisis, with risks of further destabilization in the Persian Gulf and broader economic repercussions from potential disruptions to oil supplies.
Source: www.bbc.com