Trump threatens to seize Iran's Kharg Island oil hub
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- Trump warned on Truth Social that the U.S. will soon seize Iran’s main oil export hub, Kharg Island, promising a “VERY HARD” attack Thursday night after Wednesday airstrikes.
- Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude shipments before the war, and the U.S. Navy has already blocked most of Iran’s exports with a port and vessel blockade.
- U.S. military has carried out airstrikes on Kharg Island but has not deployed ground troops to take control of the oil and gas facilities.
- Trump told Fox News he is uncertain whether America has the stomach to capture Kharg, noting that diplomatic talks with Iran are still ongoing.
- Venezuela was cited as a precedent, with the U.S. having taken control of its oil exports after ousting Maduro, depositing revenues in a Treasury account and routing shipments to the Gulf Coast.
- Iran has refused Trump’s demands, maintains control over the Strait of Hormuz, and was blamed for downing a U.S. Apache helicopter; Trump claimed the U.S. dropped $250 million of bombs on Iran.
Why it matters: If Trump follows through, Iran would lose its primary export gateway—Kharg Island, which moves about 90% of its crude—while the United States could capture a huge share of Iranian oil revenues, reshaping global supply and boosting U.S. Treasury inflows for Washington.
