US Might Seize Kharg Island to Control Iranian Oil Exports – Trump

(SeaPRwire) –   The president believes U.S. forces could “quite easily” seize the key export hub

In an interview with the Financial Times on Sunday, President Donald Trump stated he isn’t ruling out the possibility of U.S. forces seizing Iran’s key export hub on Kharg Island to gain control over the Islamic Republic’s oil exports.

Trump said his “preference” would be for Washington to control Tehran’s oil industry and exports indefinitely, just as it did in Venezuela following a military raid in January.

“To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran, but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘Why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people,” Trump said.

“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump added, pointing out that such a move would also mean U.S. forces would have to “be there for a while.”

The U.S. Department of War has been gathering forces in the region, fueling speculation about a potential ground operation. Tehran officials claimed their country’s forces were “waiting” for American troops and dared them to “come closer,” accusing the U.S. of secretly planning an invasion while discussing negotiations.

Iran is also reported to have reinforced Kharg Island’s defenses with mines, man-portable air-defense systems, and FPV drone units, yet Trump dismissed the idea that Tehran could put up a fierce fight.

“I don’t think they have any defence. We could take it very easily,” he said of Kharg.

Following the U.S. military raid on Venezuela that kidnapped President Nicolas Maduro and installed a friendlier government in Caracas, Trump vowed to control the country’s oil industry “indefinitely.”

Washington has imposed control over Venezuelan crude exports, with proceeds deposited into restricted U.S. Treasury-run accounts instead of going directly to the Venezuelan state. The country’s interim president, Delcy Rodriguez, has also agreed to sell some $100 million worth of physical gold to the U.S., with the proceeds similarly controlled by Washington.