WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump is actively considering a high-stakes military operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, the Islamic Republic’s most critical oil export hub, as the White House moves to dismantle a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. According to an Axios report citing four senior sources, the administration is simultaneously working to formalize a multinational "Hormuz Coalition" later this week to restore safe passage through the world’s most vital energy artery.
The strategic shift marks a potential turning point in the ongoing conflict, dubbed Operation Epic Fury. If executed, the seizure of Kharg Island—which handles more than 80% of Iran’s crude exports—would require American ground troops to set foot on Iranian sovereign territory for the first time in the current war. The objective is to neutralize Tehran's economic "lifeline" and force an end to the missile and drone strikes that have disrupted approximately 8% of global oil supplies.
The fallout from the escalating tensions has sent commodity markets into a tailspin. Brent crude surged to nearly $105 per barrel on Monday, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) hovered near $98. The energy shock is being felt acutely in Asia; in China, panic-buying at gas stations has been reported as Beijing, which relies heavily on the Strait for its energy imports, braces for a prolonged supply disruption.
President Trump has framed the maritime crisis as a shared global burden, pressuring allies including Japan, South Korea, and the United Kingdom to contribute warships to the security effort. "Other countries must protect their own ships," Trump noted, emphasizing that the U.S. will no longer bear the full cost and risk of policing the Gulf alone. While some allies remain hesitant due to the risk of regional escalation, the administration is reportedly "racing" to announce the coalition to calm jittery financial markets.
However, the prospect of a ground operation on Kharg Island carries immense geopolitical risk. Tehran has already signaled that any strike on its energy infrastructure will trigger immediate retaliation against U.S.-linked oil facilities across the Middle East. Analysts warn that such a cycle of escalation could transform the current supply crunch into a full-scale global economic crisis.
As the White House prepares for a potential announcement, the "war premium" continues to drive macroeconomic volatility. For investors, the focus remains on whether a multinational intervention can effectively reopen the chokepoint or if the world is entering a new era of sustained energy insecurity. With the Beijing summit also hanging in the balance, the outcome of the Hormuz standoff will likely redefine the geopolitical landscape for years to come.
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