Glenn Diesen - Greater Eurasia Podcast Seyed M. Marandi: Threat of Seizing Kharg Island & the Use of Nuclear Weapons
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Mar 12, 2026 
Seyed Mohammad Marandi, Tehran University professor and former nuclear negotiation advisor, offers a stark look at Iran's strategic calculations. He argues Kharg Island seizure would be impractical and provoke harsh retaliation. He explains Iran's asymmetric naval defenses, the futility of tanker escorts, risks of wider escalation, and how nuclear use would reshape regional legitimacy and security.
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Kharg Island Seizure Would Be Futile And Costly
- Seizing Kharg Island would be logistically difficult and strategically futile for the U.S. in the Persian Gulf.
- Seyed Mohammad Marandi says islands are well protected, close to Iranian shore, and occupation would provoke fierce retaliation and long-term regional damage.
Iran Has Hidden Naval Assets Not Sea Mines
- Iran denies mining the Strait of Hormuz and emphasizes underground naval and missile infrastructure.
- Marandi describes speedboats, underground tunnels, missile and drone bases and says these assets are protected and ready for asymmetrical warfare.
Forcing Open Hormuz Would Destroy The Market Too
- Opening the Strait of Hormuz by force is effectively impossible and strategically self-defeating.
- Marandi argues Iran can target the strait from anywhere, destroying oil/gas infrastructure and tankers so reopening yields little benefit.