Trump Candidly Expresses Desire to Seize Iran's Oil, Eyes Kharg Island

US President Donald Trump has ignited fresh controversy amid the raging war with Iran. Openly, Trump expressed his desire to ‘take Iran’s oil’ and even opened the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, Tehran’s vital oil export centre.

The statement was made as the United States strengthens its military presence in the Middle East by deploying thousands of additional troops, as the conflict enters its second month.

‘Honestly, the favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran,’ Trump said in an interview with Financial Times media, published on Sunday (29/3) local time.

Trump also compared the approach to the US stance in Venezuela, where Washington seeks to control the oil sector without a time limit.

Not only that, Trump explicitly hinted at the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, which serves as Iran’s main oil export route.

‘Maybe we seize Kharg Island, maybe not. We have many options,’ Trump stated.

‘I think they don’t have strong defences. We could take it very easily,’ he quipped.

The statement emerges amid a surge in global oil prices. In the past month, Brent crude oil prices have skyrocketed more than 50% to breach US$116 per barrel, triggered by the war between the US and Israel against Iran since 28 February.

On the ground, the Pentagon has ordered the deployment of around 10,000 troops to support land operations. About 3,500 personnel among them have arrived in the Middle East, including 2,200 US Marines.

Additional troops are en route to bolster military operations in the region.

However, plans to attack or seize Kharg Island have prompted serious warnings. Washington is cautioned that such a move risks escalating threats to US forces while prolonging the conflict with Iran.