US forces have launched airstrikes on Iran’s southern port cities, including Bandar Abbas, and the islands of Qeshm, Kish, and Abu Musa, according to Al Jazeera. The attacks have reignited questions about whether Washington intends to occupy Iranian territory, a concern that first surfaced at the onset of the US-Israel versus Iran war. Earlier reports suggested the Pentagon had considered seizing Kharg Island, a key route for Iran’s crude exports, though talks had stalled after a June memorandum of understanding.

In a recent Fox News interview, US President Donald Trump did not rule out the possibility of occupying Iranian islands. Analysts told Al Jazeera that the United States has the military capacity to seize small islands but warned of high costs and risks. Experts Andreas Krieg and Nader Hashemi noted that holding territory would be far more difficult than capturing it, with potential for heavy casualties and political fallout.

Analysts added that any such operation would provoke Iranian retaliation, disrupt shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, and threaten global energy security, potentially drawing Washington into a prolonged regional conflict.