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6h ago

White House Says U.S. Could 'Take Out' Iran's Kharg Island as Marines Move Into Position

Kharg, the hub for nearly all Iranian crude exports, is being weighed as leverage to force a reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

A satellite image shows Kharg Island, Iran's primary petroleum export hub, Feb. 25, 2026. The facility consists of numerous crude oil storage tanks and long, narrow jetties, or piers, jutting out into the water. The large, T-shaped jetty on the island's eastern side can accommodate multiple supertankers simultaneously.
Oil tankers and cargo ships line up in the Strait of Hormuz as seen from Khor Fakkan, United Arab Emirates, Wednesday, March 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)
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Overview

  • The White House told AFP the U.S. military can neutralize Kharg "at any time" if ordered by the president, following questions about plans for the island.
  • Axios reported that President Trump is considering an occupation or blockade to pressure Tehran to reopen the strait, though no invasion order has been made public.
  • The 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit is redeploying on the USS Tripoli toward the Gulf and is expected to arrive in the region in the coming days.
  • Trump said U.S. strikes recently "totally obliterated" military targets on Kharg and warned the island’s oil infrastructure could be targeted if transit remains restricted.
  • Analysts warn that taking and holding the terminal would be risky due to missiles, drones, logistics and potential oil fires, as shipping through the strait has been largely halted and prices have surged.