Iran Fortifies Kharg Island with Mines and Missiles Against Potential US Invasion
Iran is reportedly setting up extensive traps and deploying additional military personnel and air defences on Kharg Island in anticipation of a potential US operation to seize the strategic island, according to multiple sources familiar with US intelligence. This defensive buildup includes both anti-armour and anti-personnel mines, strategically positioned around the island and along the shoreline—areas where American forces could conduct an amphibious landing if President Donald Trump were to authorise a ground operation.
US Military Mobilisation in the Region
Two Marine Expeditionary Units, which specialise in rapid-response amphibious landings, raids, and assaults from Navy amphibious ships, have recently deployed to the Middle East. These units include several thousand Marines, along with amphibious warships, aircraft, and landing craft, making them the forces most likely to execute a potential operation to seize Kharg. Additionally, around 1,000 soldiers from the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division are expected to deploy to the region in the coming days.
US officials and military experts, however, have cautioned that a ground operation carries significant risks, including potentially high American casualties. Kharg Island’s layered defences, combined with the recent deployment of shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (MANPADs) by Iran, make any assault particularly dangerous.
Why Kharg Island Matters
The Trump administration has been considering using troops to seize Kharg, a small island in the northeastern Persian Gulf that serves as a critical economic lifeline for Iran, handling roughly 90% of the country’s crude exports. Officials view a potential operation as a way to pressure Tehran into reopening the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz.
At roughly a third the size of Manhattan, Kharg would require a substantial landing force to secure the island. Though it lies at the northern end of the Persian Gulf—away from the strait itself—it sits near key Iranian oil facilities, making it a highly sensitive target.
Recent Strikes and Diplomatic Tensions
The United States has already struck Kharg. On March 13, Central Command (CENTCOM) reported hitting 90 targets, including naval mine storage facilities, missile bunkers, and other military sites. President Trump announced the strikes, noting that CENTCOM had deliberately avoided hitting the island’s oil infrastructure for reasons of decency.
Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, issued a stark warning on Wednesday against any attempt to occupy Iranian islands. Posting on social media, he said, Based on some data, Iran’s enemies, with the support of one of the regional countries, are preparing to occupy one of the Iranian islands. All enemy movements are under the full surveillance of our armed forces. If they step out of line, all the vital infrastructure of that regional country will, without restriction, become the target of relentless attacks.
Earlier in the day, Ghalibaf added, We are closely monitoring all US movements in the region, especially troop deployments. On Monday, Trump announced a five-day ceasefire, claiming Washington and Tehran were in talks via negotiators to end the war. The claim was, however, rejected by Iran.
Regional Concerns and Warnings
Washington’s Gulf allies have also privately urged the Trump administration against prolonging the conflict by sending ground forces to occupy Kharg. They worry that such an occupation could result in heavy casualties and provoke Iranian retaliation against critical infrastructure in the Gulf.
Iran, in response to the joint US-Israeli strikes across its territory on February 28 that sparked the conflict, has carried out attacks in Gulf countries hosting American military bases and has also targeted Israeli territory. This escalation underscores the high stakes involved in any military action against Kharg Island, with experts warning that a US takeover could badly backfire, leading to broader regional instability.
