US Senator Lindsey Graham's call for a US invasion of Iran's Kharg Island has sparked fears of a costly and bloody conflict, with some likening the operation to the infamous Iwo Jima battle of World War 2.
Graham, a senior member of the US Senate, made the comments while pushing for a US-led operation to seize and occupy Kharg Island, which is home to Iran's oil exports and military installations.
However, the Iwo Jima battle, which saw over 6,000 US soldiers killed, serves as a stark reminder of the risks and costs of such an operation.
The US has already undertaken some strikes on Kharg, but a full-scale invasion could cripple Iran's economy and provide a bargaining chip to force Tehran to reopen the oil export route Strait of Hormuz.
But experts warn that taking Kharg Island may be a big risk for little reward, with the potential for significant US casualties and a prolonged conflict.
As the US administration faces questions over the war's progress, some are drawing parallels with the Vietnam War, with Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi last week likening the situation to the "Five O'Clock Follies" of the 1960s.
