Kharg Island, located about 15 to 16 nautical miles off the coast of Iran, serves as a critical export hub handling roughly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil shipments, making it a central node in the country’s energy infrastructure and a key source of revenue.

Trump has publicly suggested the United States could take control of the island to assert influence over Iran’s oil and gas sector, while also acknowledging that a ground operation would be difficult and politically sensitive. In remarks cited by US media, he indicated reluctance to deploy ground troops, while suggesting limited military options could still be considered.

The United States military has already conducted strikes on the island earlier this year, targeting more than 90 military installations, including naval mine storage sites and missile facilities, while reportedly sparing oil infrastructure to avoid long-term economic disruption, according to Central Command assessments cited in reporting.

However, analysts cited by Arab News and Reuters warned that any attempt to physically occupy the island would likely escalate the conflict. Experts from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies said an occupation could prolong the war and fail to deliver a decisive strategic outcome.

Former US Central Command commander Joseph Votel was cited as saying that while a relatively small force could theoretically hold the island, such troops would require extensive logistical support and would remain highly vulnerable to attack.

Iranian officials have reinforced defenses around the island, deploying air-defense systems, mines, and other military assets in surrounding waters. Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that Iranian forces were prepared to respond forcefully to any incursion, including targeting regional infrastructure.

Military analysts also cautioned that any US presence could be exposed to asymmetric tactics, including drone surveillance and propaganda dissemination of battlefield losses, potentially increasing political pressure on Washington.

Despite heightened tensions, Trump has recently indicated a pause in new strikes following what he described as progress in negotiations with Tehran, suggesting that diplomatic channels remain active alongside military signaling.

Iran’s state news agency IRNA said the action was taken in response to what Tehran described as U.S. maritime misconduct, including the seizure of commercial vessels and oil tankers linked to Iran.

U.S. Central Command denied the claim, saying no Iranian attack or missile launch targeted American warships and that U.S. naval forces continued to operate normally in regional waters.

” Iranian forces did NOT attack or fire at U.S. Navy warships,” Central Command said, adding that such an action would constitute a serious violation of the ceasefire that has largely held since April 8.

The exchange highlights continuing tensions despite the truce that halted major hostilities following the conflict that erupted after U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran on Feb. 28.

Separately, the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said American forces boarded the sanctioned stateless oil tanker Davina in the Indian Ocean during a maritime interdiction operation. Washington said it would continue efforts to disrupt networks involved in Iranian oil shipments.

The Davina, also known as the Lenore, was sanctioned by the United States in 2024 for its alleged involvement in Iranian oil trading. Ship-tracking data showed the vessel near Sri Lanka’s southern coast on Friday carrying a near-full cargo of crude oil.

The incident underscores persistent friction between Tehran and Washington as diplomatic efforts to secure a lasting settlement to the conflict remain stalled.

U.S. Central Command said the vessel, identified as the Sevan, was intercepted by a Navy helicopter launched from the guided-missile destroyer USS Pinckney during operations aimed at enforcing restrictions on Iranian oil and gas shipments.

The military described the Sevan as part of a 19-vessel “shadow fleet” accused of transporting Iranian petroleum products, including oil, propane and butane, to foreign markets in violation of U.S. sanctions.

According to Central Command, the ship complied with orders to reverse course and is now heading back toward Iran under U.S. escort.The interception marks the latest maritime enforcement action under a U.S.-led blockade intended to restrict Iranian energy exports and reduce revenue flows to Tehran amid heightened regional tensions.

U.S. officials said the targeted fleet had been sanctioned by the United States Department of the Treasury for facilitating the transport of billions of dollars’ worth of Iranian energy products through covert shipping networks often involving opaque ownership structures and flag changes.

“These vessels are part of a sanctions evasion network designed to conceal the origin and destination of Iranian exports,” Central Command said in its statement.Since the start of the blockade, the U.S. military said 37 vessels have been redirected, reflecting an expanded effort to enforce sanctions through direct maritime interdiction rather than financial restrictions alone.

The Arabian Sea has become a focal point for such operations due to its strategic role in shipping routes connecting the Gulf, South Asia and global energy markets.Washington has increased pressure on Iranian oil exports as part of broader efforts to constrain Tehran’s regional influence and funding channels, particularly amid ongoing instability across the Middle East and heightened tensions involving U.S. forces in the region.

Iran has repeatedly criticized U.S. maritime sanctions enforcement as unlawful and has accused Washington of disrupting freedom of navigation and international trade.

The latest interception comes as scrutiny of tanker movements linked to Iran has intensified, with governments and shipping regulators monitoring so-called shadow fleets used to bypass sanctions through ship-to-ship transfers and concealed cargo documentation.

No injuries or military confrontation were reported during the interception of the Sevan, and Central Command did not specify the vessel’s final destination before it was ordered to turn back.