The Trump administration is reportedly considering a ground operation to seize Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub, as a strategic move to force the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. Intelligence reports suggest that the U.S. military is weighing the deployment of Marine Expeditionary Units and soldiers from the 82nd Airborne Division to take control of the island, which handles nearly 90% of Iran’s crude exports. However, military analysts, including retired Admiral James Stavridis, warn that such an operation carries extreme risks of high American casualties due to Iran’s “layered defenses” and the island’s proximity to the Iranian mainland.
Iran is preparing for a potential US ground attack by laying traps around Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, sources say. https://t.co/BPs29qODsk pic.twitter.com/565W86EdKb
— CNN (@CNN) March 25, 2026
In response to the perceived threat, sources say Iran has significantly fortified the island, moving in additional personnel, air defenses, and shoulder-fired MANPADS. Satellite imagery and overhead surveillance have also detected the laying of anti-personnel and anti-armor mines along the shorelines to thwart potential amphibious landings. While previous U.S. strikes on March 13 targeted military bunkers and naval mine storage, President Trump notably spared the oil infrastructure “for reasons of decency.” Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf has issued a stern warning, stating that any attempt to occupy Iranian territory would trigger “relentless attacks” on the vital infrastructure of any regional allies supporting the move.
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