Washington, March 20 -- The White House is weighing risky plans to occupy or otherwise blockade Iran's Kharg Island in an effort to pressure Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, as the blockade has led to a massive surge in crude and gas prices, leading to calamitous effects on the global energy market, multiple sources familiar with the discussions told Axios.
The island, which is about 15 miles off of Iran's coast, handles roughly 90% of the country's crude exports, making it a critical node in both Iran's economy and global energy markets. As such, any move against it would mark a major escalation, potentially placing US troops directly in harm's way as tensions with Iran deepen.
Officials say President Donald Trump sees reopening th...