Trump wants to ‘take Iran’s oil’: Can he, and what would that mean?

President Trump has suggested that U.S. forces could seize Iran's oil export hub at Kharg Island as military conflict in the region intensifies. The statement reflects Trump's interest in leveraging energy resources as both a strategic and economic tool in Middle East conflicts. Kharg Island is Iran's critical infrastructure for petroleum exports, making control of it a high-stakes objective with major geopolitical implications. Seizing the facility would disrupt Iran's economy and global oil markets while raising complex questions about international law and the scope of U.S. military intervention. The proposal underscores the Trump administration's broader approach to using economic pressure and military force simultaneously against adversaries.