U.S. President Donald Trump has openly expressed his strong preference for seizing Iran's oil resources, indicating a potential move to capture Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil export hub responsible for over 90% of the country’s crude exports. In an exclusive interview with the Financial Times on March 30, 2026, Trump stated, “To be honest with you, my favourite thing is to take the oil in Iran but some stupid people back in the US say: ‘why are you doing that?’ But they’re stupid people.” He dismissed concerns about Iranian defenses on Kharg Island, asserting, “I don’t think they have any defence. We could take it very easily.” Trump also noted, “Maybe we take Kharg Island, maybe we don’t. We have a lot of options,” though he acknowledged such an operation would necessitate a sustained U.S. presence, drawing parallels to a recent U.S. operation in Venezuela where American forces gained long-term control of its oil sector.

These remarks coincide with significant military deployments, as the Pentagon is sending thousands of additional troops to the Middle East amid escalating tensions. Ten thousand troops have been ordered for deployment, with 3,500 Marines having already arrived, an additional 2,200 on the way, and portions of the 82nd Airborne being dispatched. The Pentagon has confirmed that plans for such an operation exist, and a White House source reportedly described the strategy as: “Get them by the balls and use it for negotiations.”

On the 30th day of an ongoing conflict, contradictory narratives emerged regarding a potential peace plan. President Trump claimed that Iran had agreed to “most of” a 15-point U.S. peace plan and sent 20 ships of oil as proof, with deliveries scheduled to begin the following day. However, Iran’s Foreign Minister had signaled skepticism of Washington’s position throughout the week, presenting two completely different stories on the same day of conflict.

Further escalating the situation, Iranian politicians are openly advocating for Iran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), a global agreement governing nuclear weapons. Such a move would halt inspections and end international oversight, potentially clearing the path for Iran to develop a nuclear weapon. This development is considered the most significant escalation signal of the entire conflict, given that the U.S. and Israel reportedly went to war to prevent Iran’s nuclear program.

Adding another layer of complexity to the ground situation, footage confirmed that Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), an Iranian-backed Shia militia, were seen crossing into Iranian territory. This new ground actor introduces another player and front, complicating any potential ceasefire efforts. Meanwhile, Iran’s parliament speaker, Ghalibaf, stated that Tehran’s forces are “waiting” for a U.S. ground invasion, asserting, “They are secretly planning a ground invasion while floating negotiations. Our forces are waiting for them.”

Economically, the conflict has had a dramatic impact on oil markets, with Brent crude hitting $116 a barrel overnight and heading for a record monthly jump of over 50% since February 28th. The International Energy Agency (IEA) has termed this the biggest oil shock in history, driven by the Kharg Island news and ongoing Houthi strikes. Militarily, Iran struck a chemical plant in Israel’s Ne’ot Hovav industrial zone with a ballistic missile, causing one injury and raising fears of a hazardous chemical leak from the facility, which houses some of Israel’s most dangerous industrial operations. The conflict also claimed the life of Sgt. Moshe Yitzhak Katz, a 22-year-old first-born American-Israeli soldier from New Haven, Connecticut, killed by Hezbollah rocket fire in southern Lebanon, making him the first confirmed American-born IDF soldier killed in the campaign. Three IDF soldiers were killed in Lebanon in three consecutive days. U.S. Central Command has reportedly struck over 11,000 targets in Iran, resulting in over 1,900 Iranian deaths and more than 20,000 injured, yet Iran continues to fire, block the strait, and threaten further escalation on Day 30 of the conflict.