US Eyes Possible Ground Campaign to Seize Kharg Island as Hormuz Tensions Rise

Senior US officials say Washington is weighing a ground operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, a key oil-export hub, to compel Tehran to allow vessel traffic through the Strait of Hormuz. The US has accelerated the deployment of thousands of Marines and Navy personnel to the Middle East, including the USS Boxer-led group, in support of this option. Kharg accounts for the majority of Iran’s oil exports (about 90% destined for China). Following strikes on Kharg, Trump warned of targeting Iran’s energy infrastructure if the Strait remains blocked, and officials say Iran’s defiance makes a voluntary resolution unlikely, implying a military move may be needed to restore freedom of navigation.