Trump eyes ‘Hormuz Coalition’, seizure of Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub

President Trump is working to assemble a coalition of countries to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and hopes to announce it later this week, four sources told Axios.

Trump is also weighing a seizure of Iran’s critical oil depot on Kharg Island — a move that would require U.S. boots on the ground — if tankers remain bottled up in the Persian Gulf, U.S. officials say.

Oil and gas prices are rising as Iran’s blockade of the Gulf’s narrow strait drags on, choking off a significant share of the world’s crude supply. Iran is blocking Gulf countries from exporting their oil while allowing tankers picking up Iranian crude to pass freely — keeping its own oil flowing to China and other countries. As long as the blockade holds and Gulf oil is restricted, Trump could not end the war even if he wanted to, a source with knowledge of the situation said.

Read more at Axios