Trump mulls Kharg Island takeover to force Iran to open Hormuz Strait: report

Published March 20, 2026 Updated March 20, 2026 03:06pm

The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, Axios reports, citing four sources with knowledge of the issue.

“He wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that’s going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that’s going to happen. But that decision hasn’t been made,” a senior administration official told Axios.

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