The United States is preparing military options in the Strait of Hormuz, including a potential operation targeting Iran’s strategic Kharg Island, as a diplomatic deadline with Tehran approaches.
According to reports from The Wall Street Journal and The New York Times, US forces are being repositioned toward the region, with amphibious units and thousands of troops placed on standby under Central Command.
The amphibious transport ship USS New Orleans and around 2,200 Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit are expected to move under CENTCOM command. Once in position, forces could reach the Strait of Hormuz within days, a chokepoint critical to global oil flows.
At the same time, US officials are reviewing a more advanced scenario involving roughly 3,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division. The unit, part of the Immediate Response Force, can deploy globally within 18 hours and is designed for rapid intervention.
One of the key contingencies under consideration is securing Iran’s Kharg Island, the country’s main oil export hub. Military planners see the island as a strategic target that could significantly impact Iran’s energy infrastructure.
Initial operations could focus on securing and repairing Kharg’s airfield, reportedly damaged in recent strikes, allowing C-130 aircraft to land with reinforcements, equipment and supplies.
While the paratroopers are lightly equipped, they are considered critical for fast, flexible operations, supporting marine units and stabilising positions in the early phase of any intervention.
The buildup signals a sharp escalation in tensions, with Washington preparing for multiple scenarios ranging from last-minute diplomacy to a wider military confrontation in the Gulf.