Agencies | Tehran:
Iran has warned the United States of serious consequences if it attempts to seize Kharg Island, the country’s principal oil export terminal, following renewed comments by US President Donald Trump suggesting broader military options against Tehran.
Speaking at a media briefing, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said any US military action targeting the strategically important island would be met with a strong response.
“They will face the repercussions. There are numerous people in those very regions who are eagerly awaiting their arrival,” Baghaei said when asked about Trump’s reported remarks on seizing Kharg Island.
Located about 55 kilometres off Iran’s coast in Bushehr province, Kharg Island is the backbone of Iran’s oil export infrastructure, handling nearly 90 per cent of the country’s crude exports. Its deep-water facilities enable some of the world’s largest oil tankers to dock and load cargo, making it a strategically vital asset for Tehran.
Iran defends interim agreement
Baghaei also reaffirmed Iran’s position on the interim agreement reached with the United States, insisting the document leaves no room for differing interpretations.
“The text of the memorandum of understanding is a short text comprising 14 clauses. There is no ambiguity in it,” he said, adding that Washington had no justification for violating the agreement.
“The text is completely clear, and there is no excuse for America to break the treaty,” he said.
The spokesperson also reiterated Tehran’s long-standing position on the Strait of Hormuz, saying responsibility for the future management of the strategic waterway rests with Iran.
“We have said from the very beginning that the responsibility for the future management of the Strait of Hormuz lies with Iran, and this issue will be pursued in consultation with Oman and through dialogue with regional countries,” he said.
Trump weighs broader military options
Trump has repeatedly spoken about expanding military pressure on Iran. According to a recent report by The Wall Street Journal, the US administration is considering a range of options, including intensified airstrikes and possible ground operations targeting key Iranian military and nuclear-linked facilities.
Among the reported options are the seizure of Kharg Island and strikes on the heavily fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex, which is believed to be associated with Iran’s nuclear programme.
Military analysts say capturing Kharg Island could allow the United States to disrupt the bulk of Iran’s oil exports and increase economic pressure on Tehran. However, they caution that any such operation would expose US forces to retaliation from Iranian missiles, drones and naval assets.
Experts caution against occupation
Security experts argue that while the United States possesses the military capability to seize a small Iranian island, sustaining control would be considerably more difficult.
Speaking to Al Jazeera, Andreas Krieg, Associate Professor of Security Studies at King’s College London, said the US could capture an Iranian island in a limited military operation but would face significant challenges in holding it.
“With enough air, naval and amphibious power—and a willingness to absorb the escalation that would follow—the US could seize a small Iranian island,” Krieg said.
However, he cautioned that “temporarily capturing an island is very different from holding it, supplying it and deriving strategic benefit from it.”
The United States is estimated to have around 50,000 military personnel deployed across the Middle East, spread across major bases and smaller forward operating locations. Analysts say any attempt to seize and occupy Kharg Island would likely carry significant military and geopolitical risks for Washington.
