U.S. President Donald Trump has expressed a desire to seize Iran’s oil reserves, specifically targeting the strategic Kharg Island export hub, as the ongoing military conflict between Washington and Tehran drives global energy prices to historic highs.
In a Sunday interview with the Financial Times, U.S. President Donald Trump escalated his rhetoric against the Islamic Republic by suggesting the United States should “take the oil” in Iran to bring a decisive end to the month-long regional war. Trump specifically pointed to Kharg Island, a strategic facility in the Persian Gulf that handles over 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports, as a primary target for potential seizure. The President compared the ambition to recent U.S. actions in Venezuela, where Washington has maintained control over oil assets following the capture of Nicolás Maduro 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 remarked, dismissing domestic concerns over the legality or military cost of such an occupation.
The proposed seizure comes at a time of extreme volatility in global energy markets, with Brent crude prices soaring past $116 per barrel on Monday morning in Asia. The conflict, which began on February 28 with Operation Epic Fury, has seen Iran implement a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery for 20 percent of the world’s oil supply. While the U.S. has deployed roughly 10,000 ground troops to the region—including units from the 82nd Airborne Division specifically trained for land seizure—military analysts warn that occupying Kharg Island would require a “prolonged presence” and could significantly increase American casualties. Trump remained undeterred, asserting that Iran’s defenses are negligible and claiming, “We could take it very easily.”
Despite the aggressive posturing regarding energy infrastructure, Trump indicated that indirect negotiations facilitated by Pakistani intermediaries are still progressing. He has set an April 6 deadline for the new Iranian leadership under Mojtaba Khamenei to accept a settlement or face further devastating strikes on the country’s energy sector. The President also claimed a diplomatic “present” from Tehran, alleging that Iranian officials have authorized a doubling of Pakistan-flagged tankers through the Strait of Hormuz as a sign of respect. As the deadline approaches, the international community remains on high alert, balancing the hope for a negotiated ceasefire against the reality of a U.S. administration seemingly prepared to redraw the energy map of the Middle East by force.
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