Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait - Axios
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President Trump is considering a risky takeover of Iran's Kharg Island to force open the strait.
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President Trump is reportedly considering a risky military operation to take over Kharg Island, according to Axios. This potential action is intended to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. Such a move would represent a significant escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran. Kharg Island is Iran's primary oil export terminal, making its control strategically vital.
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<p>The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran's Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/19/strait-hormuz-coalition-allies-statement-uk" target="_blank">Strait of Hormuz</a>, four sources with knowledge of the issue tell Axios.</p><p><strong>Why it matters:</strong> President Trump can't end the war, at least on his terms, until he breaks <a href="https://www.axios.com/2026/03/13/iran-war-mines-strait-of-hormuz" target="_blank">Iran's chokehold</a> on shipping through the strait. In the meantime, global <a href="https://www.axios.com/energy-climate/oil-companies" target="_blank">energy</a> prices are surging.</p><hr><ul><li>But an operation to take over Kharg Island, which sits 15 miles offshore and processes 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, could put U.S. troops more directly in the line of fire.</li><li>Thus, such an operation would only be launched after the U.S. military further degrades Iran's military capa...
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