Trump Administration Urges UAE to Seize Iranian Island Lavan

Senior officials in the Trump administration are encouraging the United Arab Emirates to deepen its involvement in the ongoing confrontation with Iran, including by seizing control of Lavan Island, a key Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf.

According to a report published Saturday by The Telegraph, figures close to President Trump have suggested that the UAE should take Lavan Island, which was reportedly targeted in secret Emirati strikes in early April. A former senior Trump security official told the British newspaper: “Go take ’em!” The official added that such a move “would be UAE boots on the ground instead of US.” Lavan Island is one of Iran’s major oil terminals, handling significant volumes of crude oil and refined products. It is considered one of the country’s four largest oil export facilities, alongside Kharg Island.

Background on the April Strikes

The push comes after reports that the UAE secretly carried out military strikes on Iranian targets in early April, including a major attack on a refinery at Lavan Island. The strike, which occurred around the time President Trump was announcing a ceasefire following a five-week air campaign, sparked a large fire and took much of the facility offline for months.

The Wall Street Journal reported that the UAE used Western-made fighter jets and drones in the operation. Iran described the incident as an “enemy attack,” responded with missile and drone barrages against the UAE and Kuwait, and has since linked subsequent incidents to the Lavan strike.

The UAE has not publicly confirmed its role in the strikes. However, Emirati officials told The Telegraph that they received stronger backing from Israel and the United States than from other Gulf neighbors, who showed limited solidarity.