US Weighs Seizing Iran’s Kharg Island and Key Oil Export Port
The United States is reportedly considering deploying military forces to take control of Iran’s Kharg Island, the main hub for the country’s oil exports in the northern Persian Gulf. This small but strategically vital island handles around 90% of Iran’s oil exports and is equipped to load Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) with up to two million barrels per tanker.
During the 1980s Iran-Iraq War, Kharg Island was frequently targeted by Iraqi air strikes. Recently, US airstrikes on the island targeted nearly 90 military sites while deliberately avoiding damage to critical oil infrastructure.
If the United States decides to invade, the move would likely be temporary, aimed at pressuring Iran by halting oil exports until Tehran relents control over the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s busiest maritime passages. However, the effectiveness of this approach remains uncertain due to Iran’s strong defensive capabilities.
Iranian officials, including Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, have warned that their forces will respond strongly to any US attempt to seize the island. Iran is believed to have fortified Kharg with surface-to-air missile batteries, while the US has deployed thousands of Marines and paratroopers to the region.
In a potential military scenario, US paratroopers could conduct nighttime airborne assaults to secure key positions, while Marines deploy from ships equipped with Ospreys and hovercraft for amphibious operations. They would face challenges navigating the Iranian-controlled Strait of Hormuz and threats from drones and missiles.
Although US forces could gain control due to superior combat power, heavy casualties are possible. Maintaining the island under potential fire from the Iranian mainland would also pose significant challenges, similar to Russia’s experience with Ukraine’s Snake Island in 2022.
Speculation suggests the focus on Kharg may also be part of a US strategic deception, with other potential targets including islands like Larak, Qeshm, Abu Musa, Greater Tunb, and Lesser Tunb, which remain under Iranian control despite regional disputes.
The situation highlights the strategic importance of Kharg Island and its oil ports. Iran aims to secure its oil exports and protect economic interests, while the United States seeks to apply pressure that could escalate tensions, weighing the military and political costs of such a move.
The unfolding scenario underscores the delicate balance of power in the Gulf, where vital oil routes and geopolitical stakes remain at the center of ongoing US-Iran tensions.