Trump says ground operation on Iran's Kharg Island possible

U.S. President Donald Trump has publicly refused to rule out a ground operation to seize Iran's Kharg Island, a critical oil export hub, and has threatened to escalate airstrikes against civilian infrastructure, including power plants and bridges. The statements, made in a televised interview on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, signal a potential major escalation in the ongoing conflict between the United States and Iran, which has seen a recent collapse of a ceasefire negotiated last month.

President Trump stated that while a ground campaign involving American troops was possible, he also suggested that unspecified allied forces could conduct such an operation. He emphasized that any decision to seize Kharg Island would depend on further degrading Iranian military capabilities. The island, located in the Strait of Hormuz, handles approximately 90 percent of Iran's crude oil exports, making it a strategically vital economic target. Trump noted that previous U.S. strikes on the island had deliberately avoided its oil infrastructure.

The president's remarks align with ongoing internal discussions among U.S. officials, who have reportedly briefed Trump on a range of aggressive military...