Trump Says US Could Take Iran’s Oil, Remove Nuclear Material to Pressure Tehran

U.S. President Donald Trump said he would prefer to “take the oil” in Iran and raised the possibility of seizing the country’s main export hub on Kharg Island, while U.S. officials are also considering a military operation to remove enriched uranium from Iran, according to reports published Sunday. The remarks, reported by the Financial Times and the The Wall Street Journal, indicate that Washington is weighing expanded options inside Iran that go beyond its current air campaign. 

Speaking to the Financial Times, Trump said “my preference would be to take the oil” and added, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options.” The island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports and is considered central to the country’s economy. Trump noted that any such move would likely require U.S. forces to remain there for an extended period.

Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. is considering a targeted operation to remove nearly 1,000 pounds of enriched uranium from Iran. Officials told the paper that Trump remains open to the idea, while weighing the risks to U.S. troops.

Experts cited in the report warned that such an operation would be highly complex. According to Rafael Grossi, the uranium is stored in gaseous form in cylinders that are difficult to transport. Former U.S. negotiator Richard Nephew said the material would require specialized transport casks and could fill multiple trucks, while engineers would need to secure and operate within the site under potentially hostile conditions.

The developments come amid signs of broader escalation in the region. Reports indicate that roughly 2,500 U.S. Marines have arrived in the Middle East, while Yemen’s Houthi forces have entered the conflict, raising concerns that the war could expand further and potentially involve ground operations.

Despite these signals, Trump said the United States is making progress in talks with Iran. “They gave us most of the points,” he said of a U.S.-proposed plan yesterday, adding, “We are negotiating with them directly and indirectly.” He also described Iran’s current leadership as “very reasonable.”

Pakistan, which has been acting as an intermediary between Washington and Tehran, said it is preparing to host “meaningful talks” in the coming days aimed at ending the month-long war.

At the same time, Trump acknowledged uncertainty around the diplomatic track, saying, “You never know with Iran, because we negotiate with them and then we always have to blow them up.” He added that while a deal could come soon, it is not guaranteed.

The combination of military planning, economic pressure options, and ongoing negotiations leaves multiple paths open, with the United States signaling both readiness to escalate and willingness to reach an agreement.