Trump is publicly pushing allies to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, but the backup plan on his desk requires US boots on Iranian soil

President Donald Trump is working to build a “Hormuz Coalition” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, with an announcement possibly coming this week. He is also reportedly considering a more aggressive backup plan: seizing Iran’s Kharg Island oil terminal, which would require American troops on the ground.

Iran’s blockade of the strait has been pushing up oil and gas prices by cutting off a large portion of the world’s crude supply. Iran is allowing its own oil tankers to pass freely while blocking other Gulf countries from exporting. According to Axios, a source said that as long as the blockade holds, Trump cannot end the war even if he wanted to.

Trump took to social media, saying the US and other countries would send warships to clear commercial shipping lanes. He called on China, France, Japan, South Korea, and the UK to help. “We are talking to other countries about policing the straits,” Trump said. “It will be nice to have other countries policing with us. We will help. We are getting a good response.”

Building a Hormuz Coalition is the priority, but seizing Kharg Island remains on the table

Trump spent the weekend on calls with European, Gulf, and Asian allies, including British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. No country has publicly committed yet, but Trump expects announcements this week. A senior official noted, “Most of this oil isn’t our oil, it goes to other countries. So if they want it and they want the price to come down, they need to help out.”

Trump has also been sending mixed signals to allies on Iran, telling the Financial Times he might delay his Beijing summit if China does not commit. He warned NATO allies that “If there’s no response or if it’s a negative response, I think it will be very bad for the future of NATO.”

Kharg Island, 15 miles off Iran’s coast, handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Trump announced Friday he had ordered strikes on military installations there, sparing its oil facilities. A White House official said no final decisions have been made but added “that could change” if clearing the strait drags on. “The president is not going to wait around and let the Iranians dictate the pace of the conflict,” they said.

Seizing the island appeals to Trump because it would deliver “an economic knockout of the regime.” This comes as Trump has also been releasing stranded Russian oil to lower crude prices, a move with its own risks.

Senator Lindsey Graham wrote on X: “Seldom in warfare does an enemy provide you a single target like Kharg Island that could dramatically alter the outcome of the conflict. He who controls Kharg Island, controls the destiny of this war.”