Donald Trump has suggested that the United States might seize Kharg Island and take control of Iranian oil resources as the war with Iran enters its second month, according to an interview published in the Financial Times.
Trump’s comments come as thousands of additional US troops arrive in the Middle East, increasing the military presence amid ongoing hostilities.
In the interview, Trump said he would “prefer” to “take the oil in Iran,” comparing a potential approach to recent US actions in Venezuela where Washington has asserted influence over the oil sector.
He also addressed the possibility of seizing the strategic oil terminal of Kharg Island, which handles a large share of Iran’s crude exports, saying that such an operation “would mean we’d have to be there for a while.”
The president’s comments coincide with the deployment of additional US forces to the region, as the Pentagon prepares for extended operations in response to the ongoing conflict with Iran.
Reports indicate that approximately 3,500 troops, including US Marines, have already arrived in the Middle East, and more are on the way.
Trump’s remarks come amid sharp increases in global oil prices and growing concerns about energy supply disruptions due to the conflict, particularly as traffic through the Strait of Hormuz remains constrained.
His statements mark a provocative turn in the public discourse surrounding US strategy in the region, even as official policy and military planning continue to evolve in response to the war.
