US EditionWhy is Kharg Island important? What to know about the Iranian island struck by the U.S.
Kharg Island handles 85–95% of Iran's crude exports and its targeting risks disrupting about 20% of global oil supply passing through the Strait of Hormuz.
- On Friday, President Donald Trump ordered large-scale precision strikes on Kharg Island, saying U.S. forces destroyed military targets while avoiding the oil-export infrastructure.
- About 20 miles off Iran's northern Gulf coast, Kharg Island serves as the main export hub where tankers load and historically handled 85–95% of Iran's crude exports.
- Markets reacted sharply, pushing crude above $100 a barrel on Thursday, and analysts warn that disruption at Kharg could cripple Iran's oil revenue and disrupt global energy markets.
- Tehran signaled it would respond across multiple fronts, including strikes on U.S. bases, while Iran said it will remain shut to U.S. ships as Trump urged the UK and allies to secure the Strait of Hormuz.
- Longer term, the strikes position Iran to make Gulf operations costly if Kharg Island's loading facilities are knocked out, threatening export capacity and revenue from China, while Iran prepares for asymmetric conflict.
17 Articles
17 Articles
The U.S. military has shot at the Iranian island of Kharg in the Persian Gulf, which is important for oil exports.
Trump rebukes media amid rising tensions with Iran
The U.S.-led campaign against Iranian military targets entered its third week on Friday, with both sides exchanging strikes and tensions continuing to ripple across the Middle East. U.S. officials say American forces targeted installations on Kharg Island, a key military hub for Iran’s oil infrastructure. Authorities stressed that oil facilities were spared for now, but Iran warned that any future attacks on its energy assets would be met with r…
Lindsey Graham praises Trump’s ‘bold’ takeover of Kharg Island, attempt to close Strait of Hormuz — offers warning of ‘peril’ to Iran
Sen. Lindsey Graham called President Trump’s decision to bomb Iran’s Kharg Island “necessary” and believes the massive strikes on the critical oil hub will shorten the war.
Video shows U.S. strikes on Iran's Kharg Island
The Americans struck on Friday, for the first time since the beginning of the conflict, the island of Kharg, from which almost all Iranian crude oil exports originate.
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