President Donald Trump told Fox News that his preferred course of action regarding Iran is to seize Kharg Island, but expressed doubt that the United States would 'stomach' such a move. According to journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), Trump said it would take time but would certainly happen if he decides — 'but I'm not sure the country has the appetite for it.' The remark follows a series of Trump statements today vowing territorial control of Iranian oil infrastructure.
President Donald Trump has introduced a note of ambivalence into a day of escalating threats. In a Fox News interview reported by journalist Asaf Rozentzweig (N12), Trump said his preferred course of action is to seize Iran's Kharg Island — which handles roughly 90% of Iran's crude exports — but added that he is not sure the United States 'has the appetite for it.' The remark, which also confirmed that the US is in talks with Iran, comes after a string of maximalist territorial declarations from Trump earlier today, including vows to strike Iran 'very hard tonight' and to seize the island and other oil infrastructure. At 15:23 Jerusalem, The Zioneer reported a series of statements in quick succession: Trump first threatened to seize Kharg Island (version 9), then claimed Iran's navy, air force, and air defenses were already destroyed (version 8), and later announced a plan to strike 'with great force' tonight and seize the island (versions 7, 10). At 15:32, The Zioneer documented Trump vowing 'great force' strikes and outlining the seizure plan. At 15:36, he declared for the first time that US forces would seize parts of Iranian territory — a shift from airstrikes toward ground presence, though that claim lacked official White House or military corroboration. The hedging in the latest Fox News exchange is notable: after a day of assured threats, Trump himself is now questioning domestic willingness to absorb a prolonged occupation of Iranian sovereign territory. As The Zioneer reported on June 9, Trump has previously suggested that the Iranians want a deal and that the US might have an idea within a day or two. The current talk of negotiations alongside territorial threats leaves the trajectory unclear: whether the 'stomach' remark signals a real constraint on policy or rhetorical maneuvering remains open, as does the status of the claimed destruction of Iranian military assets, which has not been confirmed by the Pentagon or an official White House readout.
10 developments
- StrongAnalysis: Strategic logic of a potential US seizure of Iran's Kharg Island
- StrongTrump says there will be more and bigger bombings in Iran tonight
- StrongTrump Decides: US to Strike Iran Every Night Until a Deal Is Reached
- StrongSecond consecutive night: US completes another wave of strikes on Iran; Trump threatens renewed bombing if no deal
Source and signal
- Internal intake