The United States announced on June 11, 2026 that it could assume total control of Iran’s oil and gas sector, explicitly naming the Kharg Island export terminal as a potential target. The threat comes as U.S. sanctions tighten on Iranian ports, aiming to choke oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz.

Kharg Island singled out as a "revnue choke point"

Kharg Island, situated on the opposite side of the Persian Gulf from U.S. bases in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia, handles the bulk of Iran’s oil exports. By threatening to seize or destroy the island’s terminal, Washington aims to cut off a critical source of cash for Tehran, which has been struggling with a weakened economy after years of sanctions.

According to the report, the loss of the island would "deny the government a major revenue source and further damage Iran's already weakened economy." The language underscores how central the facility is to Tehran’s fiscal stability.

New sanctions on Iranian ports tighten the noose

The U.S. has expanded its sanctions regime to include several Iranian ports, a move designed to impede oil flow through the Strait of Hormuz. As the report notes, these measures "impeding Iran's efforts to export oil through the Strait of Hormuz" could force Tehran to reroute shipments, raising costs and risking further disruptions.

These sanctions follow a pattern of escalating pressure that began in early 2024, when the United States first threatened to target Iranian maritime infrastructure after a series of attacks on commercial vessels in the Gulf.

Escalating attacks around the Strait of Hormuz

On Thursday, June 11, a small motorboat was observed navigating past anchored vessels in the Strait of Hormuz near Bandar Abbas, a hotspot for recent skirmishes. The report highlights that Kharg Island has become "a focus of escalating attacks between the countries," suggesting that the threat of U.S. control may be part of a broader strategy to dominate the contested waterway.

Analysts note that the Strait, a narrow passage through which roughly 20% of global oil passes , has long been a flashpoint for U.S.-Iran rivalry. Any disruption there could reverberate through global energy markets.

Who will enforce a U.S. takeover?

The article does not specify which U.S. command or coalition would execute a seizure of Kharg Island, leaving a key operational question unanswered. While U.S. central Command oversees Gulf operations, the lack of detail raises doubts about the feasibility of an outright takeover without a broader conflict.

Furthermore, the report offers no Iranian response, highlighting a one‑sided narrative that may obscure Tehran’s diplomatic or military calculations.

What remains unverified about the U.S. plan?

Two critical points lack confirmation: first, whether the United States possesses a concrete contingency plan to physically occupy Kharg Island, and second, how regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates view a potential U.S. foothold on Iranian territory. As the source states only that the U.S. "has threatened" to assume control, the actual intent and capacity remain speculative.

Our coverage will track any official statements from the Pentagon, the State Department,and Iranian officials to clarify these ambiguities.