Trump Warns U.S. Could Take Control of Iran’s Oil Hub as Pressure Campaign Intensifies
President Donald Trump signaled Thursday that his administration is prepared to dramatically escalate its campaign against Iran, warning that the United States may move to seize key Iranian energy assets, including the strategic Kharg Island oil hub.
In a forceful Truth Social post, Trump said Iran’s military capabilities had been badly degraded and vowed that more action was coming.
“The United States will be hitting Iran (Whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, together with most of its offensive capability, are GONE!), VERY HARD TONIGHT,” Trump posted on Truth Social.
The president then laid out a far broader objective, suggesting that the United States could take direct control of Iran’s energy lifeline.
“At some point in the not too distant future, we will be taking Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and assume total control of their Oil and Gas Markets.”
Kharg Island is considered one of the most important pieces of Iran’s oil export system. According to CNBC, roughly 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports moved through the island before the war, making it a critical pressure point in any effort to cripple Tehran’s ability to fund its military operations.
Trump compared the strategy to his administration’s approach toward Venezuela, arguing that U.S. control over energy markets can produce results that benefit both America and the targeted nation.
Trump said taking control will work “much like we have with Venezuela, which is working out brilliantly for both Venezuela and the United States of America.”
In comments reported by CNBC, Trump told Fox News he is uncertain whether “America has the stomach” to carry out such a plan.
“I think they’d like to see us come home, but we did it with Venezuela,” Trump said. “Venezuela’s worked out great for everybody.”
CNN reported that U.S. plans involving the possible seizure of Kharg Island have existed for months, though they have not yet been executed.
The strategic logic is clear: Iran’s regime relies heavily on energy revenue to sustain its military ambitions, regional proxies and hostile posture toward the West. Seizing or neutralizing Kharg Island could place enormous financial pressure on Tehran and sharply limit its ability to continue the war.
But such a move would not come without risk. Taking control of the island would likely require a major American ground presence, raising the possibility of U.S. casualties and a broader regional conflict.
So far, American airstrikes have reportedly targeted Kharg Island’s defenses, while avoiding its energy infrastructure.
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth made clear Wednesday that the Trump administration is prepared to use overwhelming force if Iran refuses to make a deal.
“If we need to negotiate with bombs, we’ll negotiate with bombs, and we’re very good at it. Nobody better in the world,” Hegseth said.
“President Trump said we’ll be hitting Iran hard, and we will be because Iran has a chance to make a good deal,” Hegseth said, according to the Times of Israel. “You can see when someone is trying to tap, tap, tap on a deal. Instead, they’re going to have tap, tap, tap bombs dropping on key facilities in Iran.”
“We don’t have to restart,” Hegseth continued, adding that the military was “prepared to set the terms to ensure we get the kind of deal that President Trump expects.”
Trump also showed growing frustration Wednesday, writing on Truth Social, “They’ve taken too long to negotiate a deal that would have been great for them, now they will have to pay the price!!!”
When asked about the post later, Trump did not back away from the warning.
“Well, we’re going to be attacking them and attacking them very hard,” Trump said, according to USA Today.
“We hit them hard yesterday, and we’re going to hit them again hard today.”
“And we’ll see what happens with the deal. We were really close to a deal, but they keep tapping us along. They keep playing us for suckers,” he said.
The message from the White House is unmistakable: Trump is no longer willing to let Tehran stall, manipulate negotiations or hide behind its energy wealth while threatening American interests and regional stability.
For years, Iran’s ruling regime has used oil revenue to bankroll aggression, defy the West and keep its war machine alive. Trump’s latest warning suggests that the era of empty diplomatic patience may be over.