Daijiworld Media Network - Washington
Washington, Mar 30: In a significant escalation of rhetoric, US President Donald Trump has indicated that the United States could consider seizing Kharg Island, a key Iranian oil export terminal, even as Washington continues to deploy additional troops to the Middle East amid the intensifying conflict.
Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump said he would prefer to “take the oil in Iran,” suggesting that targeting the island — through which a majority of Iran’s crude exports flow — remains a possible military option. “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” he said, adding that such a move would require sustained US presence.
The Pentagon has reportedly begun mobilising nearly 10,000 troops trained for land seizure operations, including personnel from the 82nd Airborne Division and US Marines, signalling preparedness for a potential expansion of operations in the region.
Military experts, however, have cautioned that any attempt to capture the strategically vital island could sharply escalate tensions, increase the risk of American casualties, and disrupt global oil supply chains.
Reflecting the growing uncertainty, Brent crude prices surged above $116 per barrel in Asian markets, extending a steep rally over the past month as fears of supply disruptions mount.
The conflict has also widened geographically. An attack on a US air base in Saudi Arabia recently left several American personnel injured and damaged a high-value surveillance aircraft. Meanwhile, Yemen’s Houthi movement launched a ballistic missile towards Israel, raising concerns of a broader regional confrontation.
Despite the military escalation, Trump stated that indirect negotiations with Iran were ongoing through intermediaries in Pakistan. He claimed Tehran had permitted additional Pakistan-flagged oil tankers to transit the Strait of Hormuz as a goodwill gesture.
Trump further warned that Iran had been given a deadline until April 6 to reach an agreement, failing which US strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure could follow.
In a controversial claim, Trump asserted that Iran had effectively undergone a “regime change” following reported deaths of senior leadership figures, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. He also cast doubt over the condition of Mojtaba Khamenei, stating that the new leadership appeared to be “a totally different group.”
However, there has been no independent confirmation of these claims, leaving the situation fluid and uncertain as geopolitical tensions continue to rise.