The Battle for Kharg Island: Why the US wants it - and why Iran won't give it up

Published: 15:14, 13 April 2026 | Updated: 15:14, 13 April 2026 President Trump is considering invading Iran's Kharg Island - one of several options in a potential US ground offensive. The island refines around 90 percent of the country’s crude oil exports, making it a critical economic lifeline.  Seizing Kharg could choke off Iran's oil exports and provide a platform for the US military to carry out attacks against the mainland. It could also allow the US to control or blockade the Strait physically. Daily Mail's Foreign Correspondent Chris Pleasance breaks down how a US invasion could unfold, and the kind of response this ‘Hail Mary’ move could trigger from Iran. Watch the full video on Daily Mail’s YouTube. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.