U.S. President Donald Trump expressed the opinion that it would be more beneficial for him to "take Iran's oil," and he did not rule out the possibility of seizing Hark Island, which is a key center for the country's oil exports. This information was published in The Guardian, citing an interview given to the Financial Times.
According to Trump, the United States is considering various strategies, including the possibility of conducting an operation to establish control over Hark Island, through which a large portion of Iran's oil exports pass. He drew parallels with the situation in Venezuela, expressing the view that the U.S. intends to maintain control over the oil industry "for an indefinite period."
“We can take Hark Island, or we may not. We have many options,” Trump noted.
However, as the publication emphasizes, such actions could be associated with serious consequences: they may lead to increased casualties among American servicemen and prolong the military conflict.
Amid the escalating situation, the U.S. is sending additional forces to the Middle East, while tensions around the Strait of Hormuz continue to rise, which has already contributed to a sharp increase in oil prices—over 50% since the beginning of the current conflict.
According to analysts' estimates, possible control over Hark Island, through which up to 90% of Iran's oil exports pass, could significantly weaken the country's economy but also increase global instability and risks for the world economy.
The price of Brent crude oil has exceeded $115–116 per barrel. At the same time, Asian stock markets sharply fell on Monday morning: key indices in Japan and South Korea dropped by more than 4% amid concerns about a prolonged conflict and rising inflation.
