Monday, 30 March 2026 — 7:30 AM
Washington, D.C. — In a highly controversial statement that has reverberated across global political and energy markets, US President Donald Trump said the United States might invade Iran’s Kharg Island to take control of the country’s oil exports.
In an interview with the Financial Times published on Sunday, Trump said his “preference” would be for Washington to control Iran’s oil industry and exports indefinitely, likening it to the US military operation in Venezuela earlier this year. In that operation, US forces seized control of the Venezuelan government and, according to the president, its oil assets.
“To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say, ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” Trump told the Financial Times. “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we do not. We have a lot of options.”
Kharg Island, located in the northern Persian Gulf, is Iran’s principal oil export hub, handling an estimated 90% of the country’s crude exports via its terminals and deep-water loading facilities.
The president also acknowledged that any such operation would require US forces to remain in the region for an extended period, suggesting that a ground presence would be necessary to secure and control the oil infrastructure.
Tehran Responds With Defiance
Officials in Tehran have warned that any attempt to seize Kharg Island would trigger a forceful response. Iranian military leaders say the island’s defenses have been significantly reinforced with specialized units, air-defense systems, mines, and unmanned aerial systems. Iranian commanders have repeatedly stated that a ground invasion would be met with fierce resistance and could prompt strikes on energy infrastructure belonging to the invading forces’ home countries.
International Reaction and Market Impact
Trump’s comments have drawn criticism from analysts and legal experts, who argue that seizing another country’s energy assets would violate international law and could destabilize already fragile global oil markets. Oil prices spiked following Trump’s remarks, with Brent crude rising sharply as traders reacted to the heightened risk of disruption in one of the world’s most important energy corridors.
Critics also warn that such a move could escalate the ongoing conflict in the region — now in its fifth week — beyond its current military and diplomatic dimensions, drawing in additional regional and global actors.
Strategic and Military Considerations
The United States and Israel have been conducting military operations against Iranian targets since late February. Iran has responded with near-daily missile and drone strikes on US and allied military positions across the Middle East, as well as strikes into Israeli territory.
Kharg Island is not only a strategic oil export point but also within artillery range of the Iranian mainland, making any amphibious or ground operation potentially hazardous for invading forces. Experts caution that even if US troops were to secure the island, controlling Iran’s broader oil infrastructure — much of which lies on the mainland — would remain a formidable challenge.
This article will be updated as more verified information becomes available.
