Kharg Island at the center of Trump's Iran pressure strategy

President Trump has threatened to seize Kharg Island, Iran's key oil export hub, a move that could choke Tehran's revenue but would risk destabilizing global energy markets and U.S. forces. Kharg handles about 90% of Iran's crude exports and can accommodate large supertankers, making it a pivotal target; past U.S. strikes and ongoing consideration of blockade or occupation highlight the high-stakes trade-off between pressuring Iran and triggering reprisals, with potential impacts on Chinese oil buyers and regional stability.