US weighs seizure of Iran’s Khark Island as Hormuz crisis deepens

The United States has informed its allies that it is preparing to take control of Iran’s Khark Island, a strategic hub for the country’s oil exports.

According to a report by The Jerusalem Post, sources familiar with the matter said Washington is preparing to launch such an operation in the near term.

Those sources added that senior US officials have told counterparts in Israel and other countries that Washington may have no alternative but to take control of the island in order to compel Iran to stop obstructing maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz.

Thousands of troops being deployed

A US official confirmed to The Jerusalem Post that American armed forces are accelerating the deployment of several thousand Marines and naval personnel to the Middle East in preparation for a possible ground operation.

According to NBC and Newsmax, Washington has decided to send approximately 8,000 additional troops to the region, up to 5,000 of whom will be Marines.

These forces are set to deploy alongside three amphibious assault ships — USS Boxer, USS Portland, and USS Comstock — carrying the military equipment required for a landing operation.

Trump administration weighs Khark option

As previously reported by Axios, US President Donald Trump is seriously considering the option of seizing Khark Island. Another option under discussion at the White House is a naval blockade to prevent Iranian tankers from approaching the island.

A source speaking to Axios said an amphibious landing would carry risks due to potential attacks from the mainland, and that such an operation would likely only proceed after Iran’s military capabilities around the Strait of Hormuz are degraded.

“Iran would need to be further weakened through strikes lasting about a month, after which we would seize the island and use it as leverage in negotiations,” the source said.

A day earlier, Trump gave Iran a 48-hour deadline to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, warning that failure to comply would result in US strikes on Iranian power plants. Iran responded that any attacks on its energy infrastructure would be met with strikes on US energy facilities across the Middle East.

The United States and Israel launched a military operation against Iran on Feb. 28. In response, Tehran effectively blocked the Strait of Hormuz, through which roughly 20% of global oil supply and up to 30% of liquefied natural gas passes.

According to S&P Global data, vessel traffic through the route has dropped by 96%. Approximately 3,200 ships are currently stranded in the Persian Gulf.