Trump Proposes Iran Invasion for Oil, Labels US Critics ‘Stupid’
In a Financial Times interview published on Sunday, President Donald Trump said he favored seizing Iranian oil by taking control of Kharg Island. He added that some US critics were “stupid” for questioning the idea. Trump said taking the island would require a sustained presence.
Military movements and planning
The Trump administration has sent US Marines to the Middle East as the US-Israel war on Iran entered its fifth week. Plans were discussed to deploy thousands more troops from the army’s 82nd Airborne.
CENTCOM reported about 3,500 additional soldiers arrived on the USS Tripoli. US officials told The Washington Post that options discussed over the past month included seizing Kharg Island.
Kharg Island’s strategic role
Iran’s Kharg Island serves as a major export hub for the country’s crude oil. The Iranian Ministry of Petroleum described its facilities as a vital nerve centre for the energy sector.
The terminal handles oil from offshore fields Aboozar, Forouzan and Dorood. Crude moves via subsea pipelines to onshore processing before storage or shipment to global markets.
Tehran’s warnings
Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned any seizure would prompt targeted attacks on the vital infrastructure of a regional country that assists the operation. He did not name that country.
In a statement carried by IRNA, Ghalibaf threatened US troops on the ground if they invaded. He said Iranian forces were prepared to respond forcefully to any invasion.
Diplomatic and economic fallout
Top diplomats from Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and Turkiye met in Islamabad. The talks aimed to lay groundwork for de-escalation as the conflict rattles global markets.
Oil prices jumped, with Brent crude rising more than 3 percent to top $116 a barrel. The surge followed mounting threats to shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
Human cost and competing peace plans
Iran’s Ministry of Health said 2,076 people have died since the start of the war, including 216 children. At least 25 deaths were reported in Gulf Cooperation Council states.
Trump unveiled a 15-point peace plan, which critics called maximalist. Tehran rejected it and set its own conditions, seeking an end to US-Israeli attacks, reparations and security guarantees.
Remarks on shipping, targets and leadership
Trump told the Financial Times that Iran agreed to allow 20 oil-carrying ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz. He said this would begin on Monday and continue over several days.
On possible ceasefires, Trump claimed there remained about 3,000 targets, saying US forces had already struck 13,000. He suggested agreements could be reached quickly, but warned negotiations with Iran could break down.
Trump also repeated claims about Mojtaba Khamenei’s condition. He said the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was either dead or in very poor condition, stating the son had been killed on the first day of the war on February 28. Tehran denied those reports and insisted its leadership was safe.
In the interview, Trump proposes seizing Iran’s oil and labeled US critics “stupid” for opposing such options. He said the United States still had “a lot of options” when discussing Kharg Island.
- Interview published: Sunday.
- Military reinforcements: Marines deployed; 3,500 troops aboard USS Tripoli.
- Potential forces: plans to send elements from the 82nd Airborne.
- Key energy hub: Kharg Island receives oil from Aboozar, Forouzan and Dorood.
- Casualties reported by Iran: 2,076 dead, including 216 children.
- Brent crude price: rose above $116 per barrel, up more than 3%.
Filmogaz.com will continue to follow developments as governments and militaries respond to the evolving crisis.
