KHARG ISLAND — President Donald Trump is considering seizing Iran's Kharg Island, the export hub responsible for more than 90% of Iran's oil exports. Trump indicated he may send U.S. troops to take control of the island.

"Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options," Trump said. "To be honest with you, my favorite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the U.S. say: 'Why are you doing that?' But they're stupid people."

"A deal could be made fairly quickly," he said.

The USS Tripoli arrived in the Middle East on Saturday with a complement of 3,500 U.S. troops. U.S. forces sent to the region include nearly 5,000 Marines and around 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division.

On 13 March 2026, the United States struck what it said were 90 military targets on Kharg Island while sparing the oil infrastructure. The island sits offshore with waters deep enough to load product onto very large crude carriers (VLCCs), which can hold around two million barrels.

Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, speaker of Iran's parliament, responded to the potential military action, according to state media. "We are unaware that our men are waiting for American soldiers to enter on the ground so they can set them ablaze and punish their regional partners forever," said Ghalibaf.

Oil prices have risen during the tensions. U.S. crude oil cost over $100 per barrel on Sunday. Brent crude oil price surged 3% to more than $116 per barrel last night, the highest level since the conflict started.

During the Iran-Iraq war in the 1980s, Kharg Island was frequently bombed by the Iraqi Air Force. The Strait of Hormuz is a critical waterway used to move about 20% of the world's oil exports. Trump and his administration continue to work to negotiate a 15-point proposal to end the war.