Bloomberg: Gulf Allies Push Trump to Invade Iran & Seize Kharg Island - Colonel Douglas Macgregor (Video)

In this 22 July 2026 published video, host Mario Nawfal talks with Colonel Douglas Macgregor who has strongly criticized the push to seize Kharg Island, warning that any attempt by U.S. light infantry or Marines to capture and hold it is “suicidal” and relies on outdated “World War II thinking”. He and various defense analysts have thoroughly debated the military logistics, risks, and strategic goals surrounding the island.

Located roughly 15 miles off the Iranian mainland, Kharg Island is the vital loading point for approximately 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. Seizing or destroying the island was viewed by some U.S. officials and analysts as a way to cripple Iran’s economy and create a bargaining chip to force Tehran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Following Iranian blockades of the Strait, the U.S. Air Force conducted major bombing raids on military sites on Kharg Island, sparking widespread discussion about amphibious ground operations.

Macgregor points out that putting Marines or soldiers on small, isolated islands inside the Persian Gulf makes them sitting ducks. With Iran’s persistent surveillance and precision-guided missile and drone capabilities, these deployed forces could be easily targeted and destroyed from a distance. Macgregor considers the idea that occupying Kharg Island will shut Iran out of the oil business to be unrealistic. He emphasizes that Iran has alternative ways to transport oil and holds other islands closer to the Strait of Hormuz. He argues that the U.S. military is already suffering from overstretched lines of communication and depleted missile supplies, making a sustained ground presence unsustainable without broader regional dominance.

The U.S. conflict with Iran and the subsequent Houthi blockades on commercial traffic have significantly disrupted global energy supplies and escalated regional tensions. Washington’s Gulf allies have grown increasingly frustrated and exasperated, as the hostilities are jeopardizing their own economies and national security. While some defense experts, such as Rebecca Grant at the Lexington Institute, have argued that seizing the island with air cover is “very doable”, the diplomatic and military reality remains complex, with the White House and Gulf nations continually weighing peace negotiations against continued military posturing.

https://youtu.be/CWPHDcw9iLU