JAKARTA - The US military's plan to try to seize Kharg Island has been drawn up for months but has continued to be delayed because the operation is considered too risky.
This was conveyed by a senior Pentagon official and two government officials to CNN, Thursday, June 11.
The White House and Pentagon view seizing Kharg Island, or destroying the island's energy infrastructure, as effectively bankrupting Iran and reducing its ability to wage war, administration officials say.
However, officials have also conveyed to President Donald Trump that such an operation would likely require a large number of ground troops and potentially result in many casualties on the US side.
Because of the calculus, the Pentagon and White House consider any move to seize Kharg Island an "end game" option - a last-ditch effort that could tip the balance of war, but at a high cost, officials say.
The US military has previously carried out several massive airstrikes against military installations on Kharg Island, but the attacks deliberately avoided targeting the island's vital energy infrastructure.
President Donald Trump earlier warned on Thursday morning local time that the United States (US) would again attack Iran with "very hard". This continued attack was carried out after the American military had bombed Iran.
"The United States will attack Iran (whose Navy, Air Force, Radar, Anti-Aircraft, and all other forms of Defense, along with most of its offensive capabilities, have been LOST!), VERY HARD TONIGHT," he said in a post on Truth Social, reported by CNN, Thursday, June 11.
Trump also said the US would seize Kharg Island and other oil infrastructure. The small island in the Persian Gulf is a vital economic artery for Iran and handles about 90% of the country's crude oil exports.
"At some point in the future, we will seize Kharg Island, and other oil infrastructure points, and take full control of their Oil and Gas Market, as we have done with Venezuela, which is going very well for Venezuela and the United States," he continued.
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