Trump Risks Dragging Out Iran War With Debate Over Seizing Kharg Island

Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf on March 17.Source: Copernicus

Provide news feedback or report an error

Confidential tip?

Send a tip to our reporters

Site feedback:

Take our Survey

By Ben Bartenstein, Jennifer A Dlouhy, and Courtney McBride

March 20, 2026 at 6:56 PM UTC

Updated on

March 20, 2026 at 10:31 PM UTC

US officials said the White House is sending more than 2,000 additional Marines to the Middle East as it weighs a plan to seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub, a ground operation that would carry huge risks for President Donald Trump.

At the same time, Trump floated the idea late Friday that the war could end quickly — even as he had ruled out an immediate ceasefire earlier in the day.