The airstrikes conducted by the United States military have reportedly destroyed several military targets located on Kharg Island, a key location that plays a crucial role in the oil export system of Iran. According to the former President of the United States, Donald Trump, the airstrikes “totally obliterated” the military targets located on the island, avoiding damage to the key oil export infrastructure located there.
Kharg Island is located in the Persian Gulf, 25 kilometers off the Iranian coast. This island plays a crucial role as the key oil export location for Iran, as it processes almost 90 percent of the country’s crude oil. This island houses key oil storage facilities, export terminals, and docking areas where crude oil is loaded onto oil tankers for export to various locations, especially Asian countries. Therefore, the island is regarded as the backbone of the oil export system of Iran.
According to reports, the strikes carried out by the United States targeted military infrastructure in the region, including missile facilities, defensive structures, and other facilities that are believed to support Iranian military operations in the region. In his statement, Trump explained that the attacks were carried out to eliminate security threats in the region, as well as to avoid damaging the oil facilities that are crucial for global energy supplies.
However, he also explained that Iran’s oil facilities may become a potential target in the near future, considering that the country is still engaging in operations that pose a threat to oil vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait of Hormuz is one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, with a significant portion of global oil traffic passing through it every day.
The Iranian government has also strongly condemned the attacks, explaining that any attack on their facilities may lead to retaliation against American oil facilities in the region. Considering the strategic importance of Kharg Island in the global oil export business, any conflict in the region may have serious consequences for the global oil market, thereby affecting oil prices in the region.
