Trump rejects plan to take Iran's Kharg Island - WSJ
Photo: Donald Trump (Getty Images)
US President Donald Trump did not support the idea of seizing Iran's Kharg Island, as he feared significant casualties among American soldiers, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The article provides a detailed account of what was happening behind the scenes in the Trump administration during the war with Iran, how the leader reacted to US losses, and why he made certain statements.
Sources said that Trump fears sending troops into dangerous areas where some may be injured and others may not return home. This, in fact, mirrors the concerns of other presidents who have chosen to engage in wars.
Continuing this context, WSJ writes that Trump "resisted sending American soldiers to take Kharg Island," which is the departure point for 90% of Iran's oil exports.
Although he was told the mission would be successful and that capturing the territory would give the US access to the strait, he feared unacceptably high American casualties.
"They’ll be sitting ducks," Trump said, according to sources cited by The Wall Street Journal.
Sources also said that Trump shouted at his aides for several hours after learning that a US aircraft had been shot down in Iran and that two pilots were missing. He demanded that the military immediately go after them.
According to sources, images of the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis — one of the most significant failures of US foreign policy in recent history — were constantly on his mind.
It should be noted that over the past week, the US and Iran have been actively negotiating through intermediaries to reach a peace agreement.
Against this backdrop, White House officials told the publication that, in their view, a breakthrough in negotiations with Iran could be achieved in the coming days. They say Washington is considering further talks in Pakistan.
Seizure and bombing of Kharg Island
Recall that about a week after the start of the US and Israel war against Iran, Axios reported on March 8 that the United States intended to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, which belongs to Iran.
Shortly afterward, media reports indicated that the goal of such an operation was to force Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz for oil and gas exports, after the blockade had driven up energy prices.
Also, on the night of March 14, Trump said that the US had carried out one of the most powerful bombardments in the Middle East, destroying all military targets on Kharg Island. The following day, he threatened new strikes if Tehran continued to block the strait.
