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President Donald Trump again raised the prospect of seizing Iran’s Kharg Island while asserting that negotiations to end hostilities with Tehran would conclude quickly.
In a March 29 interview with the Financial Times, Trump said, “My preference is to take Iran’s oil.” He acknowledged critics at home who question such a move and said they are wrong.
He compared the idea to past U.S. efforts to assert control over Venezuela’s oil industry following a regime change. Trump specifically flagged Kharg Island — a major transit point for Iranian oil exports — as a possible target for occupation. “We may occupy it, or we may not. We have many options,” he said, adding that U.S. forces could remain there for a period if necessary.
Trump expressed confidence that negotiations would yield an agreement. Speaking to reporters aboard Air Force One, he said, “I expect we’ll reach an agreement with Iran. I’m pretty confident.” He said much of the U.S. list of 15 demands has been accepted, with only a few additional requests remaining, and described the talks as progressing. The administration has set April 6 as the deadline for a deal.
Trump also issued a military warning. “We’ve already struck 13,000 targets and about 3,000 remain,” he said, warning that additional strikes — including against energy infrastructure — could follow if no agreement is reached.
Under mounting U.S. pressure, Iran has signaled it may withdraw from the Nuclear Non‑Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The NPT is the cornerstone of the international nonproliferation regime and governs peaceful nuclear activity; Tehran’s threat to quit the treaty would be a stark signal that it might pursue nuclear armament.
Iran’s semi‑official Tasnim news agency reported that parliament and relevant bodies are urgently reviewing a withdrawal, and that sentiment is growing that the arguments for remaining in the treaty are weakening.
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