Trump mulls risky Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open strait - Axios

Axios
March 20, 2026
2 min read

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President Trump is considering a risky takeover of Iran's Kharg Island to force open the strait.

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President Trump is reportedly considering a risky military operation to take over Kharg Island, according to Axios. This potential action is intended to force Iran to open the Strait of Hormuz, a critical global shipping lane. Such a move would represent a significant escalation of tensions between the United States and Iran. Kharg Island is Iran's primary oil export terminal, making its control strategically vital.

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