Former U.S. president Donald Trump is working to assemble an international coalition to resume shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, which has been blocked by Iran. According to Axios, he hopes to announce the initiative as early as this week. A more radical military option is also being considered — seizing a key Iranian oil terminal on Kharg Island, which would require deploying U.S. ground forces. These plans are being developed amid rising global oil and gas prices due to the closure of the strait.
Trump is actively conducting diplomatic talks, urging other countries to join patrols of the strategic waterway. In a post on Truth Social he said the U.S. and other countries would send warships to the Persian Gulf, and he directly appealed for help from China, France, Japan, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Later, aboard Air Force One, he told reporters that he is negotiating with several countries and receiving a “good response,” noting that some states have already declined to participate.
Alongside diplomatic efforts, the U.S. continues to strike Iranian targets, focusing particularly on Kharg Island, which lies 15 miles off the coast and through which about 90% of Iran’s oil exports pass. Trump said that U.S. strikes so far have avoided directly hitting oil infrastructure, but did not rule out further attacks “for fun.” Military analysts warn that additional strikes or a ground operation could lead to sharp escalation and provoke retaliatory attacks by Iran.
Seizing Kharg Island is seen as a potentially devastating economic blow to the Iranian regime, depriving it of its main source of revenue. However, the operation carries high risks, including the need to deploy ground troops and the likelihood of Iranian strikes against Gulf oil infrastructure, especially in Saudi Arabia. U.S. officials must balance economic pressure with the fear of sparking a full-scale regional conflict.
So far no country has publicly joined the proposed “Strait of Hormuz coalition,” but the White House expects statements of support in the coming days. Participants would be required to provide warships, drones and operational support. The rising tension has already pushed countries such as Japan to use their strategic oil reserves. The key question remains how willing allies are to back Trump’s initiative and whether the strait can be reopened without unleashing a wider war.
Comments on the news
What role does Kharg Island play in Iran’s economy and defense strategy beyond the fact that about 90% of oil exports pass through it? - Kharg Island serves as a key logistics hub not only for oil but also for other goods. In defense strategy it functions as an advanced control point over shipping in the Persian Gulf, hosting surveillance systems and anti-ship missiles. This enables Iran to respond quickly to threats in the strategically important region.
What are historical precedents for Iran blocking the Strait of Hormuz and how did that affect regional relations in the past? - During the Iran–Iraq War (1980–1988) Iran mined the strait and attacked tankers, triggering the “tanker war.” This prompted intervention by international forces (the U.S. Operation Praying Mantis in 1988) and worsened relations with neighboring Arab states and the West. In 2011–2012 Iran threatened to block the strait over sanctions, temporarily raising oil prices and increasing tensions.
How is Iran’s oil infrastructure in the Persian Gulf arranged and how vulnerable is it to military strikes aside from Kharg Island? - The infrastructure includes terminals (for example on Lavan and Sirri islands), floating platforms, underwater pipelines and onshore facilities. It is dispersed, which makes total destruction difficult, but key points (like Kharg) are vulnerable to precision strikes. Iran has strengthened defenses with air-defense systems and dispersed reserves, but a prolonged halt to exports would inflict serious economic damage.
Full version: أكسيوس: ترمب منجذب لفكرة الاستيلاء على جزيرة خارك الإيرانية