President Donald Trump is reportedly sending an additional 2,500 Marines and sailors to the Persian Gulf as fighting with Iran enters its fourth week, with attention shifting to Kharg Island, the hub for about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports. Located roughly 16 miles off the mainland in deep waters suitable for large tankers, the island is seen as Iran’s 'crown jewel' and a potential pressure point to force Tehran to reopen the Straits of Hormuz, a passageway for roughly a fifth of global oil shipments.

While American forces could likely seize the island in a rapid assault, holding it would be far more difficult. Troops stationed there would face threats from missiles, drones and possible sabotage launched from the nearby Iranian mainland, as well as attacks on shipping routes. Iran’s large stockpile of ballistic missiles, drones and underground facilities would complicate any sustained occupation, and there are concerns about unconventional weapons and proxy retaliation.

Some analysts argue that a naval blockade would achieve similar pressure without exposing ground forces to constant attack. Capturing Kharg Island could severely damage Iran’s oil industry, but it would also risk wider escalation, retaliation against regional energy infrastructure and prolonged instability. Securing the island may be feasible, yet maintaining control amid sustained counterattacks presents a far greater challenge with unpredictable consequences.