US President Donald Trump announced on Friday that American forces carried out heavy airstrikes on Kharg Island, Iran’s principal oil export hub. The strikes targeted military installations while deliberately sparing the island’s oil facilities.
Trump also warned that any interference with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would prompt him to “immediately reconsider” that restraint, leaving the door open for potential future attacks on energy infrastructure.
The standoff has renewed attention on the strategic island in the northern Gulf, which handles the bulk of Iran’s crude oil exports. The following are key facts about the island.
Why Kharg Island matters
Kharg Island has long held strategic value. It lies roughly 25 kilometers off Iran’s northwestern Gulf coast. Measuring only about 6 kilometers long and 3 kilometers wide, the island nevertheless handles about 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports. Its deep-water jetties allow supertankers to load crude, bypassing much of Iran’s shallow coastline, which cannot accommodate large vessels.
Built in the 1960s, Kharg Island has long been Iran’s main export terminal. Over the decades, Tehran has expanded storage tanks, pipelines and military facilities, making it both an economic lifeline and a strategic defense point. Today, crude shipments from Kharg remain the backbone of Iran’s oil revenue.
Due to its compact size, facilities such as storage tanks, pipelines and deep-water jetties are concentrated and exposed, making the island potentially vulnerable to military strikes.
Since the Iran–Iraq war erupted in 1980, Iran has gradually reduced its dependence on Kharg and the Strait of Hormuz, according to Hossein Kanani Moghaddam, a military analyst and former Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) commander. He told CGTN in a recent interview that Iran built oil pipelines in different regions so that it can export oil by land and sea without relying on the Strait of Hormuz.
“Even if they strike – as they have already done by attacking Abu Musa – they will gain nothing from it,” Moghaddam said, adding “on the contrary, it will intensify the oil crisis.”
Why oil facilities were spared
Observers say the decision not to strike oil infrastructure could signal a broader US strategy.
Iran’s Fars News Agency confirmed on Saturday that the US strikes hit defensive positions, bases and helicopter facilities, leaving oil installations untouched. Analysts cite several possible reasons.
First, avoiding energy shocks. Targeting Kharg Island could drive global oil prices higher, worsening inflation and economic risks worldwide, including in the United States.
Moghaddam told CGTN that striking Kharg or some of the islands will not put pressure on Iran, and this pressure will fall on American- and European-linked oil companies.
“This is not just about security. It’s also about skyrocketing insurance costs, high risks and extreme shipping expenses and also delays caused by stopping ships at sea could push the price of oil to $200 per barrel,” said Moghaddam.
Second, preserving potential “loot.” Some analysts suggest Washington may wish to keep Iran’s oil assets intact as a bargaining chip or even as a potential prize if Iran’s political situation changes.
Third, limiting domestic backlash in Iran. Striking civilian energy infrastructure could rally public support for Tehran rather than weaken it. US and Israeli strikes have reportedly been restrained for this reason.
Fourth, mitigating regional retaliation. Iranian officials have warned that attacks on their energy sector could trigger strikes against US or allied energy facilities across the Middle East.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned on Saturday that if Iran’s energy facilities were targeted, Tehran could retaliate by striking US corporate facilities or companies with American shareholdings in the region.
Could US forces seize the island?
Some reports suggest Washington may be considering more aggressive measures, including a potential amphibious assault. Security experts say capturing Kharg could cripple Iran’s oil exports and provide leverage in negotiations.
However, the risks are substantial. Kharg Island lies close to the Iranian mainland, leaving any landing force vulnerable to missiles, drones and naval attacks. Moghaddam noted Iran’s long maritime border along the Gulf, allowing Iranian forces to strike US units attempting operations near the Strait of Hormuz.
“We have a 2,000-kilometer maritime border with the Persian Gulf. If all US forces were to enter the Strait of Hormuz, we could easily strike and neutralize them from our own territory along this maritime border,” Moghaddam said.
US officials have deployed the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit to the Middle East. The force, typically comprising 2,200 Marines along with aircraft including MV-22 Ospreys, helicopters and F-35 fighters, can expand to roughly 5,000 personnel with support units.
A Pentagon official told Fox News the deployment expands military options and that the unit is ready for ground operations if ordered.
(With input from Xinhua)
