Trump weighs strike on Iran's Kharg and Larak islands
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- President Trump is weighing military escalation options against Iran that focus on seizing or invading six strategic islands in the Persian Gulf.
- The Pentagon is developing ground and bombing plans, including a possible blockade of Kharg Island, which handles about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports.
- Kharg Island houses freshwater, a permanent population of thousands, and deep waters for large tankers; a direct hit could quickly shut down Iran’s oil exports, many of which go to China.
- Larak Island sits at the narrowest point of the Strait of Hormuz and is heavily fortified with bunkers and attack craft; seizing it could limit Iran’s ability to harass ships and deploy mines.
- Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs, Iranian‑occupied islands near the UAE, are equipped with missiles, drones and mine‑laying gear; the Pentagon has suggested seizing Abu Musa, and Iranian officials warned such action would trigger attacks on regional infrastructure.
- Qeshm Island stores anti‑ship missiles, mines, drones and underground tunnels, and Iran accused the United States of attacking its desalination plant there, a claim the U.S. denied.
- U.S. officials say a major offensive would not necessarily force Iran to end the war and could deepen escalation, raising the risk of broader conflict.
Why it matters: The plan gives the U.S. a lever to cripple Iran’s oil revenue, which supplies China, while risking U.S. troops in direct combat and a broader escalation that could destabilize the region. Tehran would lose critical income, and the United States would face heightened exposure and possible retaliation.
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