United States President Donald Trump has vowed to increase strikes on civilian infrastructure in Iran. Unless Tehran gives up and bows to US demands, Trump will initiate a ground campaign, taking the war to a whole new level.
In an interview with Fox News on Tuesday, Trump commented that he would consider a ground operation “if I thought it was appropriate.” He said that while he increased the bombing campaign against Iran, other allied forces (he didn’t say which ones) could take over key strategic sites like Kharg Island. This would happen without the involvement of US troops, according to Trump.
Back in early April, Trump threatened to seize the island, meaning this is not a new idea.
U.S. May Seize Kharg Island On Monday
“Sometimes you need a ground campaign, but we have other people who will do the ground campaign for us… But we have already hit Kharg Island twice, even three times. I said, ‘Hit everything but the oil!’”
Military experts say that a seizure of Kharg Island would look like hundreds of U.S. Marines storming ashore as helicopters roved overhead. Navy warships and fighter jets would establish a complementary and overwhelming air and sea superiority, while military commanders would issue one final warning to Iranian forces: surrender or be overrun.
Trump has avoided attacking Kharg Island before, saying that the island’s oil facilities are “a chunk of the world economy.” The US ruler is particularly interested in oil in countries. After all, we learned that the entire Venezuela debacle had nothing to do with a tyrannical dictator losing power, and everything to do with the US’s desire to control as much oil as possible.
Located around 25 km (15 miles) off Iran’s Gulf coast, Kharg Island handles around 90% of the country’s crude exports and serves as the primary outlet for oil revenue, according to a report by RT.
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Iran has been very strategically using oil and its movement against the US since it was attacked on February 28th. It blockaded the Strait of Hormuz, a vital waterway, forcing the price of oil to skyrocket globally. Iran insists it will not give up control of Hormuz, while the US claims it can simply war its way into controlling it.
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As for the airstrikes, Trump said those will continue. “They’ll continue until I say it’s enough. Next week comes the power plants. Next week comes the bridges. We’re going to knock out all their power plants. We’re going to knock out all their bridges unless they get to the table and negotiate.” He added that Iran “won’t have anybody left” unless the country wants a diplomatic solution, while Trump’s plan is anything but.