‘I want to take the oil’: Trump eyes Iran’s energy hubs as ground war fears grow

WEB DESK: The US President has openly admitted his “favourite thing” would be to seize Iranian oil reserves, sparking international alarm as Washington accelerates its military build-up in the Persian Gulf.

President Donald Trump has reignited fears of a significant escalation in the Middle East after suggesting the United States could “take the oil” in Iran.

In a candid interview with the Financial Times, the President dismissed domestic critics of the proposal as “stupid people” and floated the possibility of seizing Kharg Island, Tehran’s primary oil export terminal.

The remarks come at a precarious moment for global diplomacy. While the White House has publicly claimed that indirect negotiations via Pakistani intermediaries are making “productive” progress, the rhetoric from the Oval Office suggests a more predatory military strategy is being weighed by the Pentagon.

Seizing Kharg Island

The President’s focus on Kharg Island has sent shockwaves through energy markets, with Brent crude prices surging above $116 a barrel. Strategically located in the Persian Gulf, the island handles over 90% of Iran’s crude exports. Mr Trump suggested that a ground operation to occupy the hub could be achieved “very easily,” claiming the site has little to no standing defence against American might.

“Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” the President remarked, though he acknowledged that such a move would require US forces to remain on Iranian soil “for a while.”

Military analysts have warned that any attempt to seize and hold the infrastructure would mark a point of no return, likely leading to a prolonged and bloody ground conflict.

Tehran decries ‘Fake News’

In Tehran, the reaction has been a mixture of defiance and skepticism. Iranian Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf dismissed the President’s claims of ongoing peace talks as “fake news” designed to manipulate volatile global markets.

He warned that Iranian forces are “waiting” for any American boots to hit the ground, suggesting that any attempt to occupy the oil hubs would be met with fierce resistance.

The US military footprint in the region continues to expand, with thousands of Marines and units from the 82nd Airborne Division recently arriving in the Middle East.

Despite the aggressive posturing, Mr Trump has set a deadline of 6 April for a “total resolution,” leaving the world to watch whether the coming days will bring a negotiated ceasefire or a historic grab for Iran’s energy heartland.