Axios’ report on the matter states that US President Trump is considering a plan to occupy Iran’s Kharg Island to use it as a bargaining chip to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. According to four sources with knowledge of the matter.
Sources say that:
“He wants to keep Hormuz open. If to do that he has to take Kharg Island, that’s going to happen. If he decides on a coastal invasion, that’s going to happen. But that decision hasn’t been made.”
“We need about a month to further weaken the Iranians with attacks, capture the island, and then occupy it and use it for negotiations.”
For some context, Kharg Island can somewhat be called Iran’s own “Crown Jewel”. Almost all of Iran’s oil (about 90% of crude oil exports) passes through this island. Thus, it is an extremely important and strategic point of interest.
That being said, it is one thing to conduct military operations on the island. As for capturing the island, it would prove more than challenging. Kharg Island is just 15 miles from Iran’s mainland and that means any US forces stationed there would be vulnerable to heavy fire as they would be in close proximity to Iran’s land-based artillery, drones and short-range missiles.
This is a risky maneuver and if executed could result in a huge loss of American resources. So, just keep that in mind.
And once we start to see ground troops involved, don’t expect this war to be over in just a few “weeks.” This never happens. So, this in itself is another indication that despite Trump’s constant assurances that it will end “soon”, this whole conflict could drag on for a very long time.
