Trump heightens Iran brinkmanship with Kharg Island threat

President Trump escalated rhetoric toward Iran by signaling the U.S. would seize Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil-export hub, and take control of its oil and gas markets, only to back off in a Fox News interview and suggest the country may not have the appetite for a prolonged war. He had posted on Truth Social that the U.S. would strike Iran that night and floated Venezuela as a model for energy management. The threats come amid stalled peace talks and rising public opposition to broader conflict, with the potential for rapid escalation and a spike in global oil prices.