United States forces have recently targeted Iran’s Qeshm, Kish, and Abu Musa islands, alongside port cities on Iran’s southern coast such as Bandar Abbas, as part of an intensifying military campaign. These strikes have revived longstanding questions about whether the US is preparing to seize Iranian territory.

In March 2026, two unnamed US officials told The Washington Post that the US Department of Defence was preparing for raids on Kharg Island, a critical point through which about 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports pass. However, talk of a seizure diminished after both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on June 17.

Experts note that beyond seizing the islands, the US possesses the military and logistical capacity to occupy them, given its status as the “pre-eminent global military power,” according to Nader Hashemi, a professor of Middle East politics at Georgetown University.

Smaller islands such as Hengam could be captured more easily, but would remain vulnerable to Iranian artillery, drones, missiles, and small-boat attacks. Taking multiple islands simultaneously would require a significant amphibious campaign rather than a limited raid, as noted by analyst Krieg.

The situation remains fluid, with ongoing exchanges of attacks between the US and Iran, including missile and drone barrages and port blockades.

Sources