Middle East crisis live: Trump says he wants to ‘take the oil’ in Iran and could seize Kharg Island ‘easily’ - The Guardian

President Trump said he wants to "take the oil" in Iran and suggested the U.S. could seize Kharg Island, a major Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, describing the action as "easy." The comments reflect Trump's stated ambition to use economic and military pressure on Iran as part of his broader Middle East strategy. Kharg Island is one of Iran's critical infrastructure assets for oil production and export, making any seizure a dramatic escalation with potential global energy market implications. The remarks underscore Trump's willingness to discuss military options against Iran openly, a stance consistent with his administration's more confrontational approach to Tehran compared to the previous diplomatic framework. The statement raises immediate questions about U.S. intentions toward Iranian assets and how regional allies and adversaries will respond to such rhetoric.