Former U.S. President Donald Trump has denied a report from the conservative Washington Times that claimed he suggested the United States could seize Iran's Kharg Island to take control of its oil. The report, published on March 29, 2026, cited an unnamed source and stated the idea was discussed in a private meeting.
In a post on his Truth Social platform on March 30, Trump called the report "Fake News" and stated, "I never said that, and never would have said that." Kharg Island is Iran's primary oil export terminal in the Persian Gulf.
The original article drew a comparison to U.S. sanctions on Venezuela's oil industry, but provided no verifiable evidence that such a policy is under consideration by Trump or his campaign. The Trump campaign has not released any policy proposals regarding Iran's oil infrastructure.
U.S. policy toward Iran remains focused on diplomatic efforts and sanctions to curb its nuclear program, with no official statements from the current administration or major candidates about seizing foreign territory.
