What experts say about the risks of U.S. seizing Iran's Kharg Island

Experts are weighing the strategic and economic risks of a potential U.S. seizure of Kharg Island, Iran's critical offshore oil hub in the Persian Gulf. The island serves as the operational center of Iran's petroleum industry and sits roughly 100 miles from American military installations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Control of the island would give the U.S. significant leverage over Iran's oil exports and revenue, but analysts caution the move could trigger regional escalation and destabilize global energy markets. The geographic proximity to U.S. bases makes the island militarily accessible, yet experts highlight the diplomatic and economic complications of such an aggressive move against a major oil-producing nation. The assessment reflects broader tensions over Iran policy within the current administration's strategic approach to the Middle East.