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.