In a major escalation of the “Maximum Pressure 2.0” campaign, President Donald Trump confirmed to The Financial Times on Monday, March 30, 2026, that his administration is actively considering a military operation to seize and occupy Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal. The facility, which handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude exports, has been a central focus of U.S. naval blockades since the conflict began on February 28.
The Strategy: Financial Decapitation
Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump framed the potential seizure as a way to end the war by stripping the Iranian administration of its last remaining source of hard currency.
“My preference would be to take the oil… I don’t think they have any defense. We could take it very easily,” the President told the FT. “If we take the oil, they have nothing to fight with. They have no money, they have no fuel, they have no future.”
Military Feasibility: “No Defense”
U.S. military analysts suggest that a seizure of Kharg Island would likely involve a joint operation between the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet and elements of the 82nd Airborne Division, which recently arrived in the region, bringing total U.S. troop levels to over 50,000.
- Vulnerability: Kharg Island is located 25 kilometers off the Iranian coast. While it is protected by surface-to-air missiles, U.S. officials believe recent “waves” of airstrikes have sufficiently degraded Iran’s local radar and anti-ship capabilities.
- The “Toll Booth” Factor: The White House views the seizure as a permanent solution to the “Tehran toll booth” regime, where the IRGC has been harassing or blocking international tankers in the Strait of Hormuz.
Regional and Global Fallout
The prospect of a direct U.S. seizure of Iranian sovereign territory has triggered immediate reactions:
- Oil Markets: Brent Crude surged to $118 per barrel following the report, as traders priced in the risk of a total cessation of Iranian supply and potential IRGC sabotage of the terminal.
- Iranian Defiance: President Masoud Pezeshkian responded by claiming the American people are “tired of Israeli kings” and warned that any attempt to seize Iranian land would result in “humiliation.”
- The Islamabad Track: Diplomatic sources in Pakistan expressed concern that the threat to Kharg Island could derail the “shuttle diplomacy” currently being facilitated by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar.
Precedents and Challenges
The “take the oil” rhetoric mirrors statements made by Trump during his first term regarding Iraq and Syria. However, experts warn of significant risks:
- Environmental Disaster: A battle for the terminal could lead to a massive oil spill in the Persian Gulf.
- Sustained Occupation: While “taking” the island may be easy, holding it against persistent IRGC drone and “suicide boat” swarms would require a massive, long-term naval commitment.
| Facility | Strategic Role | Status |
| Kharg Island | 90% of Iran’s oil exports. | Under Consideration for Seizure. |
| Strait of Hormuz | 20% of global oil transit. | Partially Blocked; 20 Pakistani ships cleared. |
| Tabriz Petrochemical | Non-oil precursor production. | Neutralized by Mar 30 strike. |
