The Perilous Options in the Strait of Hormuz

U.S. Naval Institute ^ | April 2026 | Michael Baucum

[Retain Mike]

One way to squeeze Iran would be to seize Kharg Island. Pipelines from Iran's major oil fields—Ahvaz, Marun, and Gachsaran—feed into the island's long jetties, which sit in waters deep enough to accommodate supertankers. The facilities on Kharg process 90 percent of Iran's crude exports. These exports fund the regime's military operations, proxy networks, and nuclear program. If the United States can seize and control Kharg Island, it could effectively cut off the Iranian economy and force the regime to the negotiating table—or fuel the internal unrest needed for the regime to collapse.

The Pentagon appears to be giving the President exactly that option. The Tripoli ARG—carrying F-35B fighters, MV-22 Ospreys, and 2,200 Marines of the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU)—is near the theater. The Boxer ARG with the 11th MEU has now been accelerated from the West Coast. Together, they represent the largest Marine amphibious force assembled in the Middle East in years. Their mission has not been officially stated. It does not need to be.

There is one big problem. To reach Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, these ships must transit the Strait of Hormuz.

U.S. Navy crews would have seconds to react to an inbound missile or drone swarm. If a single weapon gets through, it could inflict mass casualties and transform a calculated military operation into a national trauma that inflames U.S. public opinion and pulls the United States deeper into the very kind of war President Trump has spent years promising to avoid. Even if Marines successfully seize Kharg Island, holding it against unrelenting drone and missile barrages from the Iranian mainland 20 miles away would be a difficult fight.

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TOPICS: Business/Economy; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: hormuz; iran; strait

[Retain Mike]

I have yet to hear anyone explain why the island must be seized. I still maintain that a group of qualified petroleum engineers can identify the vital pumping facilities that can be bombed and render the island valueless. The Navy could also drop mines adjacent the jetties and render the facilities inoperative. Didn’t we do that at the NVA harbors?

[Lurker]

“ I still maintain that a group of qualified petroleum engineers can identify the vital pumping facilities that can be bombed and render the island valueless.”

I’m sure that no one at the War Department has thought of that. Maybe you should call them first thing tomorrow.

L

[Paladin2]

Seize the Chynah bound tankers as they exit the straight....

[sopo]

they aslo have a high value and very vulnerable railrad link
https://theconservativetreehouse.com/blog/2026/04/09/susan-kokinda-on-trumps-gambit-civilizational-expansion-or-nihilistic-western-decline/

[allendale]

Landing Maines and Army units on Kharg Island and the southern Iranian Pesian gulf shores would create a logistical nightmare. It is absolutely incumbent for effective anti drone technology be developed and deployed before such an undertaking be considered. If such anti drone technology were deployed it would severely limit if not eliminate Iran’s ability to close the Strait of Hormuz.

[bigbob]

Planning is everything. We’re planning.

[RoosterRedux]

I have thought that Kharg Island was the oil choke point that Trump was planning to take control of from the beginning of this conflict.

If Trump controls Kharg Island, he controls Iran and the IRGC.

Trump understands money. He knows how to choke Iran.

[Brian Griffin]

US Navy aircraft carriers can be protected, right?

Torpedoes and anti-ship missiles have been around for decades.

All US Navy warships should have means of dealing with them, most especially escort vessels.

Drones have been used in Ukraine for over four years. The US Navy should have protective means by now.

[4Runner]

Anti-drone technology available at the push of a button probably will require back-engineering a technological sample gifted by or from an extraterrestrial organization. It woiuldn’t be the first time divine intervention came to our rescue.

[Brian Griffin]

Huge barrels (say 10 meters in diameter and 50 meters long) or barges might be sent through the Strait.

These would mostly be submerged as oil weighs about as much as water.

They could be given protective wings to protect again missile and torpedo attack, motors to move them, and a guidance system.

They could be run through the Strait when wind would blow any oil slick onto Iranian shores.

India and the Europeans could build them as they need the oil.

******

The construction of a Liberty ship at the Bethlehem-Fairfield Shipyards, Baltimore, Maryland, in March/April 1943

Day 2 : Laying of the keel plates

Day 6 : Bulkheads and girders below the second deck are in place.

Day 10 : Lower deck being completed and the upper deck amidship erected

Day 14 : Upper deck erected and mast houses and the after-deck house in place

Day 24 : Ship ready for launching

[Brian Griffin]

Trump isn’t willing to risk a single American life to help arrogant, condescending Euroweenies.

[clearcarbon]

"Even if Marines successfully seize Kharg Island, holding it against unrelenting drone and missile barrages from the Iranian mainland 20 miles away would be a difficult fight."

If an invasion can be faked, maybe Iran can do all the damage. Maybe it would start with a smoke screen.

[FreedomPoster]

I hope Palmer Luckey’s Anduril has some tricks up their sleeves.

[Flaming Conservative]

I don’t know specifics, but a family friend was deployed in the ME, last year, and his job was to sit at a computer module and knock out incoming drones.

[Retain Mike]

I guess I should. Thanks.

[DIRTYSECRET]

Put a mosque or 2 on Kharg. Problem solved.

[Justa]

Well, it’s not that the island must be seized it’s just that it’s the best option to start. I mean it’s their facilities. Would you rather they attack US bases and ships? And they would be reluctant to blow up their own resources that would eventually be turned back to them. We’d just run it for a while. And share in the proceeds of course. In fact Trump and company could run all of Iran far better than the Mullahs and everyone would be happier with that solution than with the Mullahs.

As for the Mullahs. They’re just gangsters anyways. They’re like The Sopranos with Korans. They’re thugs but with orange slices and other goodies to spread around. Don’t think you’re going to offend anyone by wiping a bunch out.

[Lurker]

Happy to be of service.

L

[alternatives?]

If we capture the facility, it can be turned on and off quickly. If we destroy the facility, it will take a lot longer to open.

[central_va]

This is the 5th time:

We seize the island intact. Then we control the oil going out. If the Iranians keep the strait open we let them ship oil. Get it yet? Destroying the oil facility would be useless. If you can’t understand that then you are dumber than a box of rocks.