Key facts
- President Donald Trump threatened to seize Iran's Kharg Island, a key oil export terminal.
- The island handles approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.
- Trump later withdrew the threat, citing negotiations and potential escalation risks.
- Seizing Kharg Island could have significantly impacted Iran's economy and global energy trade.
- Iran had previously ordered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid threats.
President Donald Trump considered capturing Iran's Kharg Island, the primary terminal for its oil exports, as a significant economic pressure point. He publicly threatened to seize the island and control Iran's energy markets, a move that analysts warned would be a major escalation with perilous implications for US troops and regional stability.
However, Trump later retracted the threat, citing progress in ongoing negotiations and expressing doubts about American willingness to undertake such an invasion. The island's strategic importance means it remains a point of leverage in the conflict. Previously, Iran had ordered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz amid US strikes and Trump's threats.
While some officials, like Senator Lindsey Graham, supported the idea of seizing Kharg Island as a game-changer, others, like Speaker Mike Johnson, advised caution. The US had previously struck military assets on Kharg Island in March, and Iran's chief negotiator warned that impulsive decisions could lead to an 'endless quagmire'.