• Iran has deployed additional troops, air-defense systems including MANPADS, and coastal mines on Kharg Island, according to CNN citing U.S. intelligence.
  • U.S. officials warn that any ground operation to seize the oil-export hub would risk high casualties and significant logistical challenges.
  • The buildup underscores heightened tensions over Iran's key oil terminal, with potential implications for global energy markets.

Defensive preparations on Kharg Island

Iran appears to be reinforcing its defenses on Kharg Island, the country's primary oil-export hub in the Persian Gulf, in response to perceived threats of a U.S. operation to seize the facility, according to people familiar with the matter. CNN reported on Monday that Tehran has moved additional troops, surface-to-air missiles, and even laid mines along the shoreline to complicate any potential amphibious or airborne assault.

“The measures are designed to deter or at least make any invasion extremely costly,” a regional security analyst said. The island, which handles roughly 90% of Iran's crude exports, is seen as a strategic prize in the event of conflict.

U.S. officials have privately warned that a ground operation against Kharg would entail heavy casualties and major logistical risks, given the layered defenses now in place. The Pentagon declined to comment on operational planning, but one official noted that “the cost-benefit calculus is very different from a typical military strike.”

The developments come amid broader U.S.-Iran tensions over Tehran's nuclear program and regional influence. Iran's foreign ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The fortified island now presents a dilemma for U.S. planners: a potential blockade or seizure could disrupt global oil supplies, but the defensive buildup raises the bar for any kinetic action.

“This is a high-stakes game of chicken,” said a Gulf-based energy consultant. “Both sides are signaling resolve, but miscalculation could lead to a broader conflict.”

Correction: An earlier version of this article misstated the type of air defenses deployed. It is MANPADS, not larger systems.