Lindsey Graham says 'we’re not going to invade' Iran, pushes Kharg Island strategy to end war

WASHINGTON, DC: Senator Lindsey Graham has offered a striking assessment of the ongoing tensions with Iran, suggesting that while the United States does not need to invade the country, it should seize a critical part of its territory.

His remarks come amid escalating military developments in the Middle East and heightened warnings from Iranian officials following recent strikes and retaliatory threats.

Lindsey Graham’s Kharg Island strategy and Trump’s military posture

Appearing on Hannity on Fox News, Graham stated that the US does not need to invade Iran but should instead focus on eliminating its ability to threaten American interests. “No, we're not going to invade Iran. There's no reason to. We're going to destroy their ability to hurt us, have a nuclear weapon, build missiles to hit America and te**orize the region,” he said.

He identified Kharg Island as the focal point of this strategy, noting that “90 per cent of their income comes from oil and gas revenue” and that “100 per cent of that revenue generating capability is on a single island.” He urged, “Mr President, take Kharg Island. This war is over.”

Graham, a close ally of President Donald Trump, had earlier praised what he described as Trump’s “decision to take the war to Kharg Island,” asserting that Iran’s economy would be “annihilated” if it lost control of the oil hub.

In a post on X, he wrote that rarely in warfare does an enemy present a single target capable of dramatically altering the conflict’s outcome, adding, “He who controls Kharg Island controls the destiny of this war.”

Last week, Trump announced that the US military had “totally obliterated every military target” on Kharg Island, through which 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports pass. He clarified that the island’s oil infrastructure remained intact but warned that if Iran does not reopen the Strait of Hormuz, he will “reconsider this decision.”

US Marines deployment amid Iranian leadership loss

Meanwhile, some Republicans have suggested targeting the oil facilities to increase pressure, while others have echoed Graham’s proposal to seize the island. Rep. Pete Sessions indicated that 2,500 US Marines heading to the region could be tasked with securing Kharg Island, stating this would not constitute an invasion or traditional “boots on the ground” combat.

It could take up to two weeks, or until the end of March, for the unit to be fully deployed, and experts say its presence is unlikely to significantly alter the course of the war on its own.

While a Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) can rapidly deploy an initial wave of troops, capturing and holding strategic territory or sustaining a prolonged conflict would almost certainly require a much larger ground force.

Amid these developments, Iran state media confirmed the death of Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, in an air strike. Larijani is described as the most senior official to have died since Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In response, Iranian army chief Amir Hatami warned of a “decisive” retaliation, stating that “at the appropriate time and place, a decisive, deterrent, and regretful response will be given to the criminal America and the bloodthirsty Zionist regime.” 

He added that Larijani and other “martyrs will be avenged.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, separate from the army, reported that missiles had already been launched at central Israel “in revenge” for Larijani’s death, according to reports.