US forces have struck multiple military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island, a critical energy hub, while President Donald Trump warned that the island’s oil terminal could face future attacks if Tehran interferes with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. Iran has retaliated by threatening to target US-linked energy infrastructure across the Persian Gulf should such an attack occur.
According to the US military, more than 90 military sites on the island were hit, including missile depots, naval mine storage, and air defense systems. Iranian state media reported 15 explosions, stating the strikes focused on a naval base, airport control tower, and helicopter hangar, and confirmed the oil terminal remained intact. Trump stated the US had “totally obliterated every military target” on the island but chose to spare the oil facilities for the time being, cautioning that interference with the strait would prompt immediate reconsideration.
Kharg Island, located 25 kilometers off Iran’s coast, is indispensable to the nation’s economy, processing approximately 90% of its crude oil exports. Despite its small size—about 20 square kilometers—it handles nearly all of Iran’s oil shipments. The island’s facilities, built by the American firm Amoco before the 1979 revolution, include storage capacity for around 30 million liters of oil, currently 60% full. Its strategic location bypasses shallow mainland ports, allowing large tankers to load.
The strikes threaten to exacerbate global energy instability. Iran supplies about 4.5% of the world’s oil, and prior to the conflict, its exports surged beyond 2 million barrels per day, occasionally spiking to 3.7 million, as reported by trade analyst Kpler. Satellite images indicate the terminal has operated continuously during the conflict, shipping oil primarily to China while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed to most other vessels.
Following the attack, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) vowed to set oil and gas infrastructure in the Gulf “on fire” if Kharg’s energy sites are struck. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stated that any attack on Iranian oil infrastructure would prompt retaliation against American-owned or partially owned energy facilities in the region.
The military action also complicates broader US strategic goals. Reports suggest Washington is considering a ground operation to seize the island, a notion Trump referenced historically and recently described as “one of so many different things” under consideration, though he noted it is “not high on the list.” Military analysts caution that capturing and holding the flat, exposed island so close to the Iranian mainland would pose significant risks from drones, missiles, and artillery.
The situation underscores the high stakes surrounding Kharg Island. Its disruption could severely impact global oil markets and deepen the energy crisis, while the potential for escalation remains a critical concern for regional and international security.
