Donald Trump said that American forces could “very easily’ seize Iran’s oil export hub of Kharg Island, as some 3,500 US troops arrived in the region ahead of a possible ground invasion.
“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” Trump told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday. Asked about Iranian defences there, he said: “I don’t think they have any defence. We could take it very easily.”
The island handles 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports and seizing it would put enormous pressure on Iran’s economy. But Kharg has also been bolstered with layered defences in recent weeks, and experts say an invasion could drag the US into a protracted conflict.
Trump insisted that indirect talks between US and Iran were progressing well, and said that a deal “could be made fairly quickly”. He assessed it was still “possible that we won’t”.
Trump’s comments came as oil prices were set for a record monthly rise after the Iran-backed Houthis, in Yemen, joined the war by attacking Israel. Brent crude futures jumped $3.09, or 2.74 per cent, to $115.66 a barrel after settling 4.2 per cent higher on Friday.
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Will Trump invade Kharg Island?
Trump told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he wanted to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island.
Taking control of Kharg would require ground troops, which the US has rushed to the region in recent days. But most Americans are still opposed to the war and a new escalation, which would likely weigh on Trump’s already low approval ratings ahead of November midterm elections for Congress.
Officials have told Reuters the administration is weighing whether to send ground forces to the island.
Why Kharg?
The island handles 90% of Iran's oil exports, and seizing it would give the United States the ability to disrupt Iran's energy trade, placing enormous pressure on Tehran's economy.
Trump would also hope that taking Kharg Island would force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and provide him with potential leverage in future negotiations, analysts say.
How could the US invade?
Two contingents of Marines could arrive in the region around the end of the month, and sources say the Pentagon is planning to send thousands of airborne troops as well to give Trump more options if he were to order a ground assault.
A former commander of the U.S. Central Command, Joseph Votel, told TWZ.com last week that while only 800 to 1,000 troops would be needed on Kharg Island, they would require logistical backup that would need protection as well.
How would Iran respond?
Tehran has already sent extra surface to air missiles to the island and has laid traps including anti-personnel and anti-armour mines in the waters surrounding it, CNN reported, citing people familiar with US intelligence.
US troops landing on the island would also be exposed to missile and drone attacks.
Tehran could opt to lay more mines to target shipping, including floating mines deployed from the coast, which would make the region even more hazardous for shipping, which has already been significantly disrupted by the conflict.
James Reynolds30 March 2026 08:30
Where is Kharg Island?
James Reynolds30 March 2026 08:19
Watch: Zelensky visits Jordan as Kyiv looks to shore up Middle east defence ties
James Reynolds30 March 2026 08:00
Israel bolsters artillery stockpiles as Lebanon war widens
Israel's ministry of defence on Monday said that it had placed a $48 million order for "tens of thousands" of 155mm artillery shells from Israeli defence company Elbit Systems.
The order was part of a broader ministry strategy to reduce Israel's reliance on foreign munitions and expand domestic production, the ministry said in a statement.
It did not say when the munitions would be delivered.
James Reynolds30 March 2026 07:45
Recap: Trump says talks progressing as Israel widens invasion of Lebanon
Good morning.
Over the weekend, Donald Trump said that the US and Iran have been meeting directly and indirectly, appraising the new leaders of the country as being “very reasonable”.
In an apparent climbdown from criticism over the leadership of Iran, Trump said on Sunday he thought the US had already accomplished regime change in the country.
Pakistan, acting as an intermediary between the US and Iran, said it was preparing to host “meaningful talks” in the coming days aimed at ending the war.
US eyes possible Kharg invasion
Trump’s comments came even as more US troops arrived in the region, giving Trump the option of launching a ground offensive.
In an interview with Financial Times published on Sunday, Trump said he wanted to "take the oil in Iran" and could seize the export hub of Kharg Island. Taking control of Kharg would require ground troops.
Iran’s parliament speaker accused the US of trying to negotiate while also planning an invasion, and said Iran was ready to respond if needed.
Netanyahu greenlights wider invasion in Lebanon
Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu said meanwhile on Sunday that he had ordered the military to expand its operations in southern Lebanon, blaming Hezbollah rocket fire.
Israel said last week it was enlarging a ‘buffer zone’ up to the Litani River.
Houthis enter the fray
Yemen's Iran-aligned Houthis joined the conflict on Saturday, launching their first attacks on Israel and raising the prospect they could target and thus block a second key shipping route, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait.
Israeli authorities said on Sunday that they had intercepted two drones launched from Yemen.
Supreme leader still out of frame
Iran’s new supreme leader thanked the Iraqi people and religious leadership for their support of Iran, according to Iran’s state media. But it was unclear how the message was conveyed.
Mojtaba Khamenei still has not been seen since his appointment as the third supreme leader of Iran in early March.
James Reynolds30 March 2026 07:30
Australia PM calls for clarity from Trump on objectives of Iran war
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese has said he wanted more certainty from US president Donald Trump on the objectives of the ongoing war in Iran.
"I want to see more certainty in what the objectives of the war are and I want to see a de-escalation," Albanese said, responding to a question about his view on how Trump was prosecuting the war.
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Trump considering military action to seize Iran's uranium – report
US president Donald Trump is reportedly considering a military operation to remove nearly 1,000 pounds of uranium from Iran.
President Trump is still weighing the risk of the operation and has yet to pass the order, US officials familiar with the matter told the Wall Street Journal.
Trump and key allies have privately agreed a targeted operation could seize the uranium without significantly prolonging the war, the report said.
However, former US military officers and experts warned any attempt to extract the uranium would be highly complex and carry significant risks.
Alisha Rahaman Sarkar30 March 2026 07:00
Iran dismisses Pakistan talks
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, dismissed the talks in Pakistan as a cover after some 2,500 US Marines trained in amphibious landings arrived in the Middle East.
He said Iranian forces were “waiting for the arrival of American troops on the ground to set them on fire and punish their regional partners forever,” according to state media.
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Protest in Washington DC in support of Iranians' 'fight for freedom'
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