A recently resurfaced 1988 interview with then-businessman Donald Trump reveals his early consideration of military action against Iran’s critical Kharg Island oil terminal. Speaking to The Guardian, Trump articulated a confrontational approach toward Iran, stating he would “be harsh on Iran” and proposing to “go in and take” Kharg Island in response to any provocation against US assets.
This historical perspective gains contemporary significance as recent reports from Axios indicate that US and Israeli officials have recently discussed the possibility of seizing this strategic facility, which handles approximately 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. The parallel between Trump’s 1988 comments and current deliberations highlights remarkable consistency in his strategic thinking regarding Iran.
The context of Trump’s original remarks was the brutal Iran-Iraq War (1980-1988), which resulted in approximately 500,000 casualties. During this period, the US Navy was actively escorting vessels through the strategically vital Strait of Hormuz and conducting operations against Iranian oil infrastructure and naval mines.
Trump’s adversarial stance toward Iran appears rooted in the 1979 Iranian Revolution, which overthrew US-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and established the Islamic Republic. The subsequent 444-day hostage crisis, where 52 American diplomats were held captive in Tehran, profoundly shaped the perceptions of many Americans of Trump’s generation.
Despite this confrontational posture, historical records reveal a more complex US-Iran relationship. During the Iran-Iraq War, the United States and Israel actually sold weapons to Iran, perceiving Saddam Hussein’s secular Iraqi government as a greater threat than the Islamic Republic. Some of these transactions became part of the controversial Iran-Contra affair, where proceeds were illegally diverted to support anti-communist rebels in Nicaragua.
The potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20% of global oil and natural gas supplies transit, represents a significant threat to energy markets. Recent reports indicate that Iran continued loading operations at Kharg Island even after the initiation of US-Israeli military actions, though current operational status remains unclear.