The administration of Donald Trump is weighing plans to occupy or blockade Kharg Island to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reported citing four sources.
The move is being considered as Washington looks to break Iran’s grip on shipping through the strait, disruption of which has sent global energy prices surging. Kharg Island, located about 15 miles offshore, processes nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports, making it a critical node in global oil supply chains.
Click here for live updates on the US-Israel Iran War
However, officials acknowledged the risks, noting that any operation to seize the island would likely follow further US strikes aimed at weakening Iran’s military presence around Hormuz. The plan could also require additional troop deployments, with multiple Marine units already heading to the region and more under consideration.
"He wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that's going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that's going to happen. But that decision hasn't been made," Axios reported, citing a senior official.
"We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island and then get them by the balls and use it for negotiations," the report said, citing a source with knowledge of the White House thinking.
Also Read: Kharg Island, struck by US, is key hub for Iran oil exports
Such an operation, if approved, would also require more troops. Three different Marine units are on their way to the region. The White House and the Pentagon are considering sending even more troops soon, the report said.
Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, had said Donald Trump had been "prudent" not to rule out a ground invasion, though he would not say whether he supported such a move. Cotton argued that Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz reflected desperation, adding that Trump had "mountains of plans" to deal with the situation.
However, experts cautioned that targeting Kharg Island may not deliver the intended outcome. While the island is central to Iran’s oil exports, there is no guarantee that seizing it would compel Tehran to negotiate on Washington’s terms.
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery warned that such an operation could expose US troops to significant risk with limited strategic upside. "If we seize Kharg Island, they're going to turn off the spigot on the other end. It's not like we control their oil production," he said, as per the report.
Montgomery added that a more likely course of action would be continued strikes over the next few weeks to degrade Iran’s military capabilities, followed by deployment of US naval and air assets to escort tankers through Hormuz, potentially avoiding the need for a ground invasion.
Also Read: A war in West Asia without winners — except may be Russia’s oil machine
This concentration also makes the island a critical vulnerability. Any disruption to Kharg’s infrastructure could significantly curb Iran’s exports and tighten global supply, with analysts warning that even limited damage could have outsized market impact. Given that Iran has continued shipping between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels per day despite the conflict, a hit to Kharg could sharply escalate pressure on already volatile oil markets.
The move is being considered as Washington looks to break Iran’s grip on shipping through the strait, disruption of which has sent global energy prices surging. Kharg Island, located about 15 miles offshore, processes nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports, making it a critical node in global oil supply chains.
Click here for live updates on the US-Israel Iran War
However, officials acknowledged the risks, noting that any operation to seize the island would likely follow further US strikes aimed at weakening Iran’s military presence around Hormuz. The plan could also require additional troop deployments, with multiple Marine units already heading to the region and more under consideration.
"He wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that's going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that's going to happen. But that decision hasn't been made," Axios reported, citing a senior official.
"We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island and then get them by the balls and use it for negotiations," the report said, citing a source with knowledge of the White House thinking.
Also Read: Kharg Island, struck by US, is key hub for Iran oil exports
Such an operation, if approved, would also require more troops. Three different Marine units are on their way to the region. The White House and the Pentagon are considering sending even more troops soon, the report said.
Sen. Tom Cotton, who chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee, had said Donald Trump had been "prudent" not to rule out a ground invasion, though he would not say whether he supported such a move. Cotton argued that Iran’s decision to close the Strait of Hormuz reflected desperation, adding that Trump had "mountains of plans" to deal with the situation.
However, experts cautioned that targeting Kharg Island may not deliver the intended outcome. While the island is central to Iran’s oil exports, there is no guarantee that seizing it would compel Tehran to negotiate on Washington’s terms.
Rear Admiral (Ret.) Mark Montgomery warned that such an operation could expose US troops to significant risk with limited strategic upside. "If we seize Kharg Island, they're going to turn off the spigot on the other end. It's not like we control their oil production," he said, as per the report.
Montgomery added that a more likely course of action would be continued strikes over the next few weeks to degrade Iran’s military capabilities, followed by deployment of US naval and air assets to escort tankers through Hormuz, potentially avoiding the need for a ground invasion.
Critical hub for Iran’s oil flows, but also a major vulnerability
Kharg Island is the backbone of Iran’s oil export system, handling around 90% of its crude shipments and serving as the main loading hub for tankers. Located offshore in deep waters, it allows large vessels to dock—unlike much of Iran’s shallow coastline—and is connected to an intricate network of pipelines, terminals and storage facilities that move oil from fields to global markets.Also Read: A war in West Asia without winners — except may be Russia’s oil machine
This concentration also makes the island a critical vulnerability. Any disruption to Kharg’s infrastructure could significantly curb Iran’s exports and tighten global supply, with analysts warning that even limited damage could have outsized market impact. Given that Iran has continued shipping between 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels per day despite the conflict, a hit to Kharg could sharply escalate pressure on already volatile oil markets.
