Trump Eyes Iran’s Oil, U.S. Sends 10,000 More Troops to Middle East | WPN World People News

U.S. President Donald Trump said in an interview with the Financial Times on the 29th that his “preferred option” is to secure control over Iran’s oil, and he did not rule out seizing Kharg Island, the country’s key oil export hub. He confirmed that April 6 has been set as the final deadline for negotiations, warning that if Tehran fails to accept an agreement by then, U.S. forces will strike Iran’s energy facilities. As the United States and Israel join forces against Iran, tensions in the Middle East continue to escalate. Global oil prices have surged by more than 50% over the past month, with Brent crude briefly nearing $116 per barrel during early Asian trading on the 30th.

In preparation for a potential escalation, the Pentagon announced the deployment of approximately 10,000 additional troops to the Middle East, including thousands of Marines already on the ground and paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division set to be deployed. These forces are trained in island seizure and ground control operations. However, any attempt by U.S. forces to capture Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf would likely face threats from Iranian missiles and drones, increasing both casualties and operational costs.

While Trump did not disclose details of the negotiations, he stated that U.S. forces have already struck around 13,000 targets, with another 3,000 still pending, emphasizing that an agreement “could be reached quickly.”

Trump also claimed that Iran has allowed more oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, and alleged that Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, may have been seriously injured or killed—claims denied by Tehran. Analysts note that domestic support in the United States for military action against Iran remains low, and Trump had previously pledged to avoid entanglement in new Middle East conflicts. Launching a large-scale ground operation at this stage could therefore pose significant political risks for his administration.