Trump floats seizing Iran’s Kharg Island amid tentative cease-fire talks

U.S. president signals willingness to launch high-stakes operation even as Pakistan mediates tentative negotiations

By Abdullahi Yusuf

U.S. President Donald Trump has raised the prospect of a direct amphibious operation against Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, highlighting stark contradictions in Washington’s approach even as preliminary cease-fire talks, brokered by Pakistan, appear to take shape.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump suggested seizing the island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports, could be “very easy” and would give the U.S. control over Iran’s oil, though he acknowledged it would require ground troops and a sustained military presence.

“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t,” he said. “We have a lot of options… it would mean we had to be there for a while. I don’t think they have any defense.”

The president simultaneously expressed cautious optimism about a diplomatic resolution. He cited Iran allowing 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as a “sign of respect” and said negotiations were occurring both directly and indirectly with Tehran.

“I think we’ll make a deal with them, I’m pretty sure, but it’s possible we won’t,” Trump said. “We’re doing extremely well in that negotiation, but you never know with Iran because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up.”

While Pakistan confirmed it would host talks between Washington and Tehran, Iranian officials remained sceptical. Parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf dismissed the talks as a ruse, claiming Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire.”

The recent arrival of 2,500 U.S. Marines, with another contingent en route, underscores the seriousness of the military option. Analysts note that any amphibious assault on Kharg Island would involve traversing the Strait of Hormuz and placing forces well within artillery range of the Iranian mainland. Tehran has previously threatened to mine the Persian Gulf and retaliate against any troops on its territory.

Thirteen U.S. service members have already died since the conflict began, and with domestic opposition to escalation rising, a ground operation carries significant political risks for Trump ahead of November’s midterm elections.

Military and regional analysts caution that seizing Kharg Island could ignite a prolonged conflict with far-reaching economic and geopolitical consequences, particularly in the oil markets, while testing U.S. public patience.

Trump’s remarks expose a dual-track approach: aggressive military posturing paired with tentative engagement in diplomacy, leaving the region and global observers uncertain about America’s next move.

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