U.S President Donald Trump is considering drafting U.S troops to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub.
A draft is a system in which the government requires citizens, usually young men, to join the military, even if they do not volunteer.
According to Trump, if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz remains blocked, he will resort to having boots on the ground, marking the clearest signal yet of a possible escalation as the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran continues.
At the same time, Trump is now pushing to form an international naval coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and prevent the price of oil from skyrocketing globally.
Commercial shipping through the Strait of Hormuz has slowed sharply after Iranian attacks on vessels and the laying of naval mines, forcing tankers to remain anchored in the Gulf.
The disruption has unsettled oil markets and raised fears of a prolonged supply shock if the route remains closed.
Trump Seeks International Support
In an article published by Axios on March 15, U.S. officials confirmed that the president hopes to announce the coalition later this week. However, as of now, no country has publicly committed to joining, and it remains unclear which nations, if any, are likely to participate.
Trump says that the idea of seizing Kharg Island is being considered only if the shipping blockage continues.
Kharg Island sits off Iran’s southwest coast in the Persian Gulf and serves as the main hub of the country’s oil exports.
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Nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude exports pass through the island’s terminals before heading to global markets.
Little Hope for Trump
President Donald Trump has been urging allies and major oil-importing countries to help police the waterway, arguing that nations dependent on Middle Eastern oil should share the burden of keeping the Strait of Hormuz open.
Trump has described the effort as a proposed “Hormuz coalition” that would involve warships escorting commercial vessels.
Despite the push, to date, no government has publicly agreed to contribute naval forces to the coalition or formally signaled willingness to participate.
Australia and Japan have explicitly stated they do not plan to send ships, while several European and Asian countries have responded cautiously and have not confirmed any commitment to the coalition.
Senior diplomats from these countries say their capitals are wary of being drawn deeper into a conflict that shows no clear endgame.
The discussion over a possible ground operation follows recent U.S airstrikes on Kharg Island itself.
Over the weekend, U.S forces bombed Iranian military positions on the island, targeting air defences, missile storage sites, and naval facilities, with about 90 military targets confirmed hit.
Importantly, the strikes deliberately avoided Kharg’s oil infrastructure.
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In public statements after the attack, Trump said he chose not to attack the oil facilities for reasons of decency but warned that the decision could be reversed if Iran continued to interfere with freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz.
Why Kharg matters
Kharg Island is often described as Iran’s economic lifeline, as it handles the vast majority of the country’s crude exports and has deep-water berths that allow large oil tankers to load directly offshore.
Losing control of Kharg would severely curtail Iran’s oil sales and government funding.
According to Trump’s critics in Congress, a seizure of Kharg Island would be a major military and political gamble.
Despite its size, taking and holding Kharg would require U.S. ground forces and risk retaliation from Iranian missiles and allied militias.
Even the threat of such action has already added volatility to markets, as traders weigh the risk of prolonged supply disruptions.
