Iran fired back sharply at President Donald Trump after he suggested the U.S. could seize the strategic Kharg Island, issuing a blunt warning that no American soldier would survive an attempted invasion of the key oil terminal.

Ebrahim Rezaei, spokesman for the Iranian Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, responded directly to Trump’s comments via social media:  

“Come — we are waiting for you — and we promise that not a single American soldier will return alive.”

The threat comes after Trump revealed that U.S. forces had already struck parts of Kharg Island in recent airstrikes while deliberately sparing the oil infrastructure, keeping open the possibility of taking control of the facility. Speaking from the NATO summit in Ankara, Trump said:  

“We attacked Kharg Island last night. We knocked out a piece. I said, don’t touch the oil because maybe we’ll take over Kharg Island… It’s not a thing they can do about it.”

Kharg Island is Iran’s most critical oil export hub, located in the Persian Gulf near the Strait of Hormuz. It handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, making it a vital source of revenue for the regime and a high-value strategic target.

The escalating rhetoric follows repeated Iranian violations of a ceasefire, including attacks on commercial vessels, which prompted strong U.S. military responses. While Trump has kept pressure on Tehran’s oil assets without destroying them outright, Iranian officials are now openly threatening heavy casualties in the event of any ground operation on the island.

The situation remains tense as the Trump administration continues diplomatic engagements in Turkey while maintaining a firm military posture in the region.