President Trump is considering a range of options for military escalation with Iran, several of which center around strategic islands in the Persian Gulf.
Why it matters: The importance of the islands comes from their proximity to the Strait of Hormuz, a critical energy chokepoint, and in some cases their role in Iran's own oil industry or military defenses. But taking and holding Iranian territory would be far riskier than anything the U.S. has attempted thus far in the war.
