Trump Floats Seizure Of Iran’s Kharg Island Amid Escalating Tensions

US President Donald Trump has said he is considering seizing Iran’s key oil export hub, Kharg Island, as part of a broader strategy to “take the oil in Iran,” according to an interview with the Financial Times. His remarks come as Washington increases its military presence in the Middle East and weighs further action against Tehran.

Trump compared the potential move to US policy in Venezuela, where Washington aims to control the oil industry “indefinitely” after it forcibly seized President Nicolas Maduro in January.

Taking control of Iranian oil infrastructure would likely involve capturing Kharg Island, through which more than 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports pass, making it a critical economic lifeline.

The US President suggested that such an operation could be straightforward, stating that Iran has limited defences on the island and that American forces could take it easily. However, he acknowledged that any seizure would require a sustained presence.

Analysts have warned that an assault on Kharg Island could significantly escalate the conflict, increasing casualties and prolonging the war. The Pentagon has already ramped up deployments in the region, with thousands of additional troops, including Marines, being sent to bolster US Central Command operations.

Trump is also reportedly considering a separate military operation to extract nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran, a move officials say would be complex and risky.

Diplomacy Continues Amid Oil Market Surge

Despite the heightened military posture, Trump indicated that indirect negotiations with Iran, facilitated by Pakistani intermediaries, are making progress and could yield a deal quickly.

Global oil markets have reacted sharply to the conflict. Prices have surged since late February, with Brent crude climbing above $115 per barrel amid fears of supply disruptions and prolonged instability in the region.

The situation remains fluid, with diplomatic and military tracks advancing simultaneously, raising uncertainty over whether tensions will ease or escalate further.

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