Iran fortifies Kharg Island as US weighs possible takeover

US officials and military experts have warned that such an operation would carry significant risks, including the potential for heavy US casualties due to the island’s layered defenses.

By Vered Weiss, World Israel News

Iran has reinforced defenses and deployed additional forces to Kharg Island in recent weeks as the United States weighs a possible operation to seize the strategic site, according to multiple people familiar with US intelligence, CNN reported.

The preparations include the placement of anti-personnel and anti-armor mines, including along shoreline areas where US troops could attempt an amphibious landing, as well as the deployment of additional shoulder-fired surface-to-air missile systems known as MANPADS.

The moves come as the Trump administration considers using US troops to take control of the island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports, as leverage to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.

US officials and military experts have warned that such an operation would carry significant risks, including the potential for heavy US casualties due to the island’s layered defenses.

An Israeli source said there is concern that a ground operation could trigger attacks by Iranian drones and shoulder-fired missiles against US forces. “The hope is that they won’t take that risk and will instead fire at the oil fields, but there is no way to know,” the source said.

Retired Adm. James Stavridis, a former NATO Supreme Allied Commander and now a CNN military analyst, also raised concerns. “I would be very worried about this,” he said. “Iranians are clever and ruthless. They will do everything they can to inflict maximum casualties on US forces both on the ships at sea and especially once ground troops are anywhere in their sovereign territory.”

The US military previously carried out strikes on Kharg on March 13, with US Central Command saying 90 targets were hit, including “naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers, and multiple other military sites.” President Donald Trump said the operation avoided oil infrastructure “for reasons of decency.”

US Central Command did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Iran’s recent actions on the island.

Iranian officials also warned against any attempt to seize territory. “Based on some data, Iran’s enemies, with the support of one of the regional countries, are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands,” parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X. “All enemy movements are under the full surveillance of our armed forces. If they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks.”

“We are closely monitoring all US movements in the region, especially troop deployments,” Ghalibaf said earlier Wednesday.