The USA is moving a huge amount of hardware into theatre at the moment. This will be to pressure Iran into an agreement or to put the proverbial boots on the ground. A couple of weeks ago when the MEU was first reported as heading that way, the conversation was about Kharg Island. Then I dismissed that and suggested the islands in the SoH as being a more likely threat.
However, I think I may be wrong. There are only two ways out of this:
1. A negotiated deal that provides guarantees that the SoH stays open.
2. Securing the SoH by military force.
Option 1 seems unlikely and the mood music is depressing. Trump needs something that demonstrate that he is a winner.
Option 2 is being studied by the best brains at CENTCOM and elsewhere and various options will be being presented up the chain. The final call being made by the CinC. The lure of taking over the Straight will be strong and one that KSA seems to favour and may find truck with other nations.
But how? I will rule out the attack on the various islands except as a prelude. The islands also sit within artillery range of the mainland. Putting troops on them just makes them targets. The County of Bander Abbas would make sense. It's coastline is where most of the anti shipping missiles are housed and the port would be a prize. Plenty of flatish farmland to the East. Limited road access along the coast or through mountain valleys to the North. Definitely a tough ask but
I pray that Option 1 comes good.