Trump threatens to seize Iran's Kharg Island oil terminal

President Donald Trump announced on Thursday that the United States may seize Iran's primary oil export terminal, Kharg Island, and assume control of the country's oil and gas markets. In a post on his social platform, he said the U.S. military would attack Iran "VERY HARD" after completing a round of airstrikes on Wednesday, and likened the prospective operation to the U.S. takeover of Venezuela's oil exports earlier this year.

Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran's crude shipments, but a U.S. naval blockade has already limited much of the country's export capacity. While U.S. forces have previously struck military targets on the island, they have not yet moved to seize its oil infrastructure.

During a live interview with Fox News, Trump expressed uncertainty about whether the United States has the willingness to occupy Kharg, noting that talks with Iran are ongoing. He added, > "I think they'd like to see us come home, but we did it with Venezuela. Venezuela's worked out great for everybody."

The president also referenced recent U.S. military actions against Iran, including a $250 million bomb strike, and reiterated that Iran has not met U.S. demands to reopen the Strait of Hormuz or abandon its nuclear program. Iran continues to assert control over the strategic waterway, which prior to the conflict carried about 20% of global oil shipments.