An Iranian lawmaker warned on Friday that Tehran could launch ground attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain if the United States carries out a ground invasion of Iran.
Ahmad Bakhshayesh Ardestani, a member of parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, said Iranian forces could respond by targeting the two Gulf countries, which host significant US military presence.
“If the United States puts boots on the ground in Iran, we may also launch ground attacks on Kuwait and Bahrain,” he told Iranian media.
Ardestani also addressed recent US threats regarding Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export terminal in the Gulf. He said American forces might be able to seize the island temporarily but would be unable to hold it, as it lies within range of Iranian missiles.
He described any US ground operation on the island as turning American troops into “cannon fodder.”
The remarks come amid heightened tensions between Iran and the United States, following a series of US airstrikes on Iranian targets, including India-funded Chabahar port.
Washington has accused Tehran of attacking commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran has rejected the claims and warned of strong retaliation against any further aggression.
Ardestani’s comments reflect hardline positions often voiced by Iranian lawmakers, though they do not necessarily represent official government policy.
Kharg Island
Kharg Island is emerging as a potential flashpoint between the US and Iran.
The island has deep-water port facilities, ideal for supertankers. It sits just 16 miles off the main Iranian coast, offering a strategic staging post for incursions into mainland Iran, and serves as the country’s primary oil export terminal, handling over 90% of its crude exports.
Controlling Kharg will not only allow the US to dominate the strategic Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of global crude and natural gas are transported, but also deprive Tehran of its key oil revenue sources.
Natural Fortress?
Kharg’s proximity to the Iranian coast means that the US military would be in the direct firing line of Iranian rockets, artillery, missiles, drones, MANPADS, and other offensive systems.
Additionally, the nearby coastline is mountainous in places, making it challenging for American radars to spot Iranian projectiles.
US forces operating on Kharg Island would face considerable disadvantages due to the island’s terrain. The low-lying and mostly flat island offers little natural cover or concealment, leaving troops exposed to observation and potential fire from Iranian positions along the nearby mainland coast, which lies roughly 16 miles away.
Iranian forces positioned on higher ground could monitor American movements across much of the island and target US forces with relative ease.
A maritime approach to the island would also present major operational challenges for US forces.
Located in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Kharg Island can only be reached by navigating through the Persian Gulf, where Iranian forces have deployed anti-ship missiles, naval mines, drones, and small submarines, which could seriously complicate efforts to move troops and equipment toward the island.
If the US manages to seize the Island, holding and sustaining control over it would be the most challenging part.
Additionally, Iran has built formidable defenses on the island itself. Tehran could also adopt a scorched-earth policy by setting fire to the oil wells, creating toxic smoke and a hazardous atmosphere.
Writing in the Long War Journal, Ryan Brobst and Cameron McMillan from the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, opined that “Seizing and occupying Kharg Island is more likely to expand and prolong the war than to deliver any sort of decisive victory… [It] would pose significant operational challenges and come at a high cost for little strategic return… [and] could lead to significant casualties.”
They warned that an attempt to seize the island could be “a trap of America’s own making.”
- Sumit Ahlawat has over a decade of experience in news media. He has worked with Press Trust of India, Times Now, Zee News, Economic Times, and Microsoft News. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Media and Modern History from the University of Sheffield, UK.
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