Iran has warned the United States if it attempted a ground invasion of Kharg Island, a strategic oil hub that handles about 90 percent of the country’s crude exports, amid rising tensions between the two countries.The Iranian Foreign Ministry said its people were “counting the minutes to welcome” US troops in the event of a ground attack. Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghai said the US would face “consequences” for any aggressive maneuvers. “There are many people in the same areas who are eagerly awaiting his arrival,” Baghai told reporters.Kharg Island, located 55 kilometers off the coast of Bushehr province, is the backbone of Iran’s energy sector. Its deepwater terminals allow ultra-large crude carriers to dock, making it the primary export point for Iranian oil.
US reportedly reviewing plan to capture Kharg island
This warning comes after the Wall Street Journal reported that Washington is reviewing a broader offensive campaign against Tehran. Military options under consideration reportedly range from intensified air strikes to possible ground operations targeting critical infrastructure.Operational plans reportedly include the capture of Kharag Island and precision strikes on the fortified Pickaxe Mountain complex, an underground facility believed to be linked to Iran’s nuclear program.US President Donald Trump has repeatedly signaled a possible intensification of the US military stance. In a Fox News interview on July 14, Trump said he would consider launching a ground campaign “if it feels appropriate” and suggested that allied forces could control strategic locations such as Kharg Island without direct US involvement.“We attacked Kharag Island twice, even three times. I said: Attack everything except oil!” Trump said. When asked if he still intended to take control of the island, he replied: “If we weaken them deeply and forcefully, I will do that.”
Iran’s military strategy
Iran has spent decades preparing for a possible US ground attack with a military strategy built on dispersal and underground storage. According to Seyed Mohammad Marandi, an Iranian academic who advises Tehran’s nuclear negotiating team, the country’s arsenal is decentralized and buried deep underground to withstand sustained US air campaigns.“Everything in Iran has been dispersed and kept underground,” Marandi said in an interview with political analyst Glenn Deisen. He also claimed that the IRGC had recently introduced a new missile into the conflict.Iran has been reinforcing Kharg Island in recent weeks, deploying additional military personnel and air defense systems, including shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles. Intelligence reports indicate that Tehran has also laid anti-personnel and anti-armor mines around the island, including along the coastline.Experts warn that any ground operation carries significant risks. Retired Admiral James Stavridis, former Supreme Allied Commander of NATO, said the Iranians are “clever and ruthless” and will “do everything they can to inflict maximum damage on US forces”. He said Iranian forces could attack amphibious ships with drones and ballistic missiles, and the island’s proximity to the mainland makes it vulnerable to sustained attack.Gulf countries have privately urged the Trump administration not to prolong the conflict by deploying US troops to capture Kharg Island. Regional governments fear a ground action could lead to heavy casualties, trigger Iranian retaliation against Gulf infrastructure and escalate the war.