The Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island in an effort to pressure Tehran into reopening the Strait of Hormuz, according to four sources familiar with the matter, The Caspian Post reports, citing Axios.

Kharg Island, located about 15 miles off Iran’s coast, handles roughly 90% of the country’s crude oil exports, making it a strategic target.

Officials believe that controlling or disrupting activity there could weaken Iran’s leverage over global shipping routes, particularly through the Strait of Hormuz, where tensions have driven up energy prices.

However, such an operation would likely expose US forces to significant risks. Sources said any move to seize the island would only be considered after further degrading Iran’s military capabilities in the region. “We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island and then use it for negotiations,” one source familiar with internal discussions said.

The potential operation would also require additional troop deployments. Three US Marine units are already en route to the region, and officials are weighing the possibility of sending more forces, according to a US official.

Senior administration figures emphasized that no final decision has been made. “He wants Hormuz open. If that requires taking Kharg Island or even a coastal invasion, that remains an option,” one official told Axios, referring to President Donald Trump.

Another official said the US has maintained ground presence in conflicts under multiple administrations and stressed that any decision would be based on strategic considerations rather than political pressure.

Senator Tom Cotton, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Trump had been “prudent” in not ruling out a ground operation, though he did not explicitly endorse such a move. He also described Iran’s actions in the Strait of Hormuz as a sign of desperation and said the administration has multiple contingency plans.

Despite its importance to Iran’s oil exports, analysts note that even if Kharg Island were taken, there is no guarantee it would compel Tehran to negotiate on Washington’s terms.