Trump reportedly wants to seize Iran's Kharg Island. He floated the idea 40 years ago

Trump reportedly wants to seize Iran's Kharg Island. He floated the idea 40 years ago Submitted by MEE staff on Tue, 03/10/2026 - 15:51 Trump called for the US to take over the key Iranian oil export hub as early as 1988 This handout image, captured by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellite, shows a view of Iran's Kharg Island, on 2 March 2026 (European Space Agency/AFP) Off US President Donald Trump mulled over taking over Iran’s oil-export hub Kharg Island as a way to assert US power in the Gulf and punish the Islamic Republic. The idea came to him nearly 40 years ago.