Pentagon Drafts "Final Blow" Military Contingencies as White House Considers Ground Incursions to End Iran Conflict

The US weighs "final blow" options against Iran, including seizing Kharg Island and securing enriched uranium, as the Trump administration seeks a war victory.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 26, 2026, 7:31 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from Asharq Al Awsat

Strategic Objectives for a Decisive Military Conclusion

The United States government is currently evaluating a set of aggressive military contingencies aimed at forcing a total resolution to the ongoing conflict with Iran. Sources familiar with the planning indicate that these "final blow" options are intended to serve two primary functions: to provide President Donald Trump with a definitive victory narrative or to create overwhelming leverage for future negotiations. The planning phase has accelerated as Iranian forces continue to threaten international shipping lanes, prompting Washington to consider direct ground interventions on Iranian-held territory to permanently secure the region’s maritime corridors.

Targeting the Economic and Radar Hubs of Kharg and Larak

Among the primary options under discussion is the direct seizure or total blockade of Kharg Island, the central infrastructure hub for Iran’s global oil exports. Neutralizing this facility would effectively terminate the Iranian state’s primary source of revenue. Simultaneously, the Pentagon is weighing an assault on Larak Island, located within the Strait of Hormuz. Larak serves as a critical surveillance point, housing the radar systems and bases used by Iranian forces to track and strike civilian vessels. Occupying this island would grant the U.S. military direct oversight of the world’s most sensitive energy chokepoint.

Territorial Restoration and Control of Abu Musa Island

A third tactical scenario involves a ground invasion of Abu Musa Island, situated in the eastern Persian Gulf. This territory is strategically significant as it allows Iran to exercise control over ships departing the Gulf. Notably, Abu Musa—along with the Greater and Lesser Tunb islands—is currently held by Iran but claimed by the United Arab Emirates, a prominent ally of the United States and Israel. A U.S.-led seizure of these islands would not only secure maritime transit but could also be framed as a restoration of regional sovereignty for Gulf partners, further isolating Tehran from its neighbors.