Trump Hints At Escalation In Middle East: ‘Any Time We Want’

President Trump is hinting the U.S. could escalate again in the Middle East as his team weighs a bold move to break Iran’s chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz.

Behind the scenes, the Trump administration is considering plans to occupy or blockade Iran’s Kharg Island to pressure Tehran into reopening the strait, four sources familiar with the discussions told Axios. Kharg sits about 15 miles offshore and is central to Iran’s oil exports, processing about 90% of the country’s crude shipments.

The push is being driven by one reality: Trump can’t end the war on his terms while Iran keeps tankers under threat, and every day Hormuz stays squeezed, energy prices stay hot.

Any operation around Kharg would carry serious risk. Putting U.S. troops on or near the island would move them closer to Iranian fire, so officials say the Pentagon would likely want more time to degrade Iran’s missile, drone and mine capabilities around the strait first.

“We need about a month to weaken the Iranians more with strikes, take the island and then get them by the balls and use it for negotiations,” a source with knowledge of the White House thinking said.

Trump’s aides are also looking at what it would take in manpower. Three Marine units are heading toward the region, and officials are discussing whether more forces will be needed if the White House chooses an island operation.

“He wants Hormuz open. If he has to take Kharg Island to make it happen, that’s going to happen. If he decides to have a coastal invasion, that’s going to happen. But that decision hasn’t been made,” a senior administration official told Axios.

US President Donald Trump said American forces could seize Iran’s strategic but “unprotected” Kharg Island “any time we want,” saying US strikes have obliterated Iran’s military and left the country’s leadership repeatedly decimated. pic.twitter.com/39TDxwnF10

— Iran International English (@IranIntl_En) March 19, 2026

“We’ve always had boots on the ground in conflicts under every president, including Trump. I know this is a fixation in the media, and I get the politics, but the president is going to do what’s right,” a second senior official said, stressing no decision has been made.

Some Republicans are backing Trump’s posture. Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., said Trump has been “prudent” not to rule out a ground option, arguing Iran’s strait pressure campaign is desperation and the administration has “mountains of plans” if Tehran doesn’t back down.

RELATED: REPORT: US Could Deploy Marines To Take Iran’s ‘Crown Jewel’ And Re-Open Strait Of Hormuz

But critics warn there’s no guarantee Kharg would deliver a clean victory. Retired Rear Adm. Mark Montgomery said seizing the island could expose U.S. troops to major risk with uncertain payoff.

“If we seize Kharg Island, they’re going to turn off the spigot on the other end. It’s not like we control their oil production,” he said.

Montgomery said a more likely endgame is a sustained degradation campaign followed by U.S. and allied escorts for commercial shipping through Hormuz, instead of an invasion.

RELATED: NEW: US Hammers Iran’s Anti-Ship Missile Sites With Bunker Busters Near Strait Of Hormuz

Trump has publicly framed Kharg as a target the U.S. can hit whenever it chooses.

“We can take out the island anytime we want. I call it the little island that sits there so totally unprotected. We’ve taken out everything but the pipes. We left the pipes because to rebuild the pipes would take years for them,” Trump said Thursday.

He also insisted he isn’t telegraphing troop moves, adding he wouldn’t announce them even if he planned them.

Download the FREE Trending Politics App to get the latest news FIRST >>