Trump weighing strike on Iran oil island before midterms

American diplomatic sources have told the Aram News site that President Donald Trump is holding consultations with senior advisers and officials at the Defense Department and the Central Intelligence Agency on the possibility of carrying out military strikes against Iran's Kharg Island.

The island, which serves as the main artery for Iran's oil exports, could become a central target in an effort to force Tehran into concessions at the negotiating table.

According to the reports, the consultations within the American administration are focused on the extent to which hitting critical energy facilities on the island could alter the calculations of Iran's leadership. The sources said Washington is examining whether such a move could push Iran to abandon its preconditions and accept negotiations that meet US demands, particularly regarding the nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

The options under consideration include targeted strikes on oil infrastructure at Kharg, among them oil tanks, pipelines and loading facilities, as well as military installations on the island or at other Iranian sites. The consultations come at a time when Washington is seeking to increase economic and military pressure on Tehran, after mediation efforts have failed and no real progress has been made on the Iranian proposal known as the "seven-day plan."

Exceptional strategic importance

Kharg Island holds exceptional importance in American calculations. The island is the main center for Iranian crude oil exports, with approximately 90% of the country's oil exports passing through its facilities. Its storage capacity is estimated at around 30 million barrels, and it includes an extensive network of tankers, pipelines and loading points for giant oil tankers.

The island's strategic maritime location and the deep waters that allow it to accommodate massive vessels make it a central hub for the flow of Iranian oil to Asian markets, particularly to China. An American diplomat close to White House officials said Trump is inclined to consider escalation options that could have a dual economic and military impact on the Iranian regime.

According to the source, the American gamble is based on doubling the impact of sanctions and the naval blockade through additional military operations. These would target energy facilities and related military sites. He said the American administration believes that Tehran's continued insistence on its demands, including a ceasefire on all fronts, the release of frozen assets, and an end to military and economic pressure before the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, is preventing progress.

The source noted that Washington has informed the Qatari side that it does not intend to respond to Iran's economic demands without direct concessions related to the nuclear program and guaranteeing freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. According to the American diplomat, the gap between the sides leaves military escalation options on the table.

Trump's internal political calculations are not disconnected from the military options under consideration. With the approach of the midterm congressional elections, scheduled for November 3, and amid a decline in the president's approval ratings and growing pressure on the Republican Party, the diplomatic source said that the fear of possible electoral losses is pushing Trump to seek a foreign policy achievement that could be exploited politically.

Trump stated on October 8 that he does not intend to launch strikes against Iran before the midterm elections. However, the US administration is still weighing military options.