Trump Threatens to Seize Iran's Kharg Island Oil Terminal, Warns of 'Complete Obliteration' of Infrastructure

President Trump publicly threatened to seize Iran's Kharg Island, the country's main oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf, in an interview with the Financial Times. Trump stated he wanted to 'take the oil in Iran' and said 'Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options.' He also threatened to 'completely obliterate' Iran's power plants, oil wells, and desalination plants if a ceasefire deal is not reached 'shortly.' These threats came even as Trump claimed negotiations were progressing and Iran had agreed to allow 20 oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz. The statements represent an extraordinary threat to seize sovereign territory and destroy civilian infrastructure of another nation, raising serious questions under international humanitarian law regarding threats to civilian infrastructure such as desalination plants that serve civilian populations. No indication was given that these threats were made in consultation with Congress.

"Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don't. We have a lot of options. My favorite thing would be to take the oil in Iran." — Statement made during Financial Times interview discussing ongoing negotiations with Iran over Strait of Hormuz access