President Donald Trump has threatened to "take over Kharg Island" in Iran, a critical hub for the nation's oil exports, as tensions between the two countries escalate. Trump's remarks suggest a potential for a second night of U.S. attacks on Iran and outlined a range of possible retaliatory actions.
During a meeting with NATO leaders, Trump stated that there was "not a thing" Iran could do to prevent the U.S. from seizing Kharg Island, which handles approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports. He also mentioned the possibility of reimposing a blockade, acknowledging that Iran might respond by deploying mines.
"There may be a big attack and it would knock out a lot of stuff," Trump said during a separate bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The president's comments signal a hardening stance and foreshadowed further military action against Iran. The island's significance as a major oil terminal makes any threat to it a substantial escalation in regional tensions.