Washington, 30 March (H.S.):

President Donald Trump hinted on Monday that the United States could seize control of Iran's oil resources including the vital Kharg Island export terminal as tensions flare amid a major Middle East military buildup.

In a Financial Times interview Trump called taking Iran's oil his preferred war option likening it to long-term U.S. plans for Venezuela's fields after ousting Nicolas Maduro and noting Kharg's weak defenses would allow easy capture though requiring sustained troop presence.

Kharg Island off Bushehr in the Persian Gulf handles 90 to 94 percent of Iran's crude exports with 30 million barrel storage deep waters for supertankers and robust military infrastructure now ringed by mines amid U.S. threats.

The U.S. has deployed around 10000 troops including Marines and the 82nd Airborne to the region bolstering air and naval assets as the conflict drags into its second month.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar