Iran is turning Kharq Island into an impregnable fortress — CNN
In recent weeks, Tehran has significantly bolstered its defenses on the strategically important island of Kharg in preparation for a possible ground operation by U.S. forces.
CNN reports this.
According to intelligence reports, the Iranian military is laying mines along the coast on a massive scale and deploying additional air defense units to the site.
U.S. President Donald Trump views the capture of this small piece of land as a key lever of pressure on the Iranian regime.
Since about 90% of the country’s total oil exports pass through Kharg, control of the island would allow Washington to dictate the terms for reopening the Strait of Hormuz.
The Iranian command has focused its efforts on creating continuous minefields around the island, using both anti-personnel and anti-tank barriers.
Particular attention is being paid to areas suitable for amphibious landings, where “in recent weeks, Iran has been setting traps and deploying additional military personnel and air defense assets to Kharg Island.”
In addition to the minefields, additional anti-aircraft missile systems have been deployed on the island to counter aircraft and cruise missiles.
U.S. military experts warn that such a dense defense would make any assault attempt extremely bloody for U.S. forces.
Discussions are ongoing within the White House administration regarding the advisability of a direct ground confrontation.
Some allies, as cited by CNN, question the necessity of the operation: the successful capture of the island alone will not solve the global problem of Iran’s monopoly in the region.
U.S. President Donald Trump is receiving conflicting signals from his advisors.
On the one hand, control over the oil hub is a powerful argument; on the other, the threat of heavy casualties among American soldiers could become a political disaster for the country’s leader.
Israeli sources express concern that if the operation begins, Iran will launch massive attacks using drones and portable anti-aircraft missile systems.
This could result in significant casualties among U.S. military personnel even during the approach to the island.
“There is hope that they will not take such a risk and will instead target oil fields, but it is impossible to predict this,” experts note, assessing the unpredictability of Tehran’s actions.
As a reminder, the price of Brent crude oil exceeded $104 amid U.S. and Israeli attacks on the island of Kharg.
Additionally, IRGC Navy Commander Alireza Tangisiri stated that Iran considers oil infrastructure linked to the U.S. to be legitimate military targets.
