March 16, 2026 | 03:03 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - United States President Donald Trump is considering seizing Kharg Island in northern Iran. This would involve directly deploying U.S. military personnel into Iranian territory.
According to an Axios report citing sources, as quoted by Antara, Trump is reportedly interested in a plan to seize Kharg Island completely because doing so could deal a "huge blow" to Iran's economy and cut off Tehran's funding.
A White House official told Axios that the U.S. president has not made any decisions regarding Kharg Island. However, according to the source, the situation could change if efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz drag on.
According to an Axios report, the move would require the deployment of U.S. personnel to Iran, raising concerns that it could prompt Iranian retaliation against oil production facilities and pipeline installations in the Gulf region, especially in Saudi Arabia.
On February 28, the U.S. and Israel launched a joint attack on Iran, including Tehran. The attack damaged infrastructure and caused casualties. Iran then launched retaliatory attacks on Israeli territory and U.S. military bases throughout the Middle East.
The escalation in Iran has effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, a vital shipping lane for oil and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) from Persian Gulf countries to world markets.
The shipping disruption also affected oil production and export levels in the Gulf region.
Read: Living Amid Bombings in Iran: How Fear Impacts Mental Health
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