Military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island have been “totally obliterated,” President Donald Trump announced, marking a major escalation in the ongoing conflict in the Persian Gulf. Kharg Island, a strategic hub for Iran’s oil exports, was hit during a US airstrike described by Trump as “one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East.”
The island, situated roughly 16 miles off Iran’s southern coast, is about one-third the size of Manhattan and accounts for nearly 90 percent of the country’s crude oil exports. Trump emphasized that the strikes focused exclusively on military sites and spared the oil infrastructure. He warned that future strikes could target oil facilities if Iran obstructs the passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated the world has ever known, but for reasons of decency, I have chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,” Trump said. He added that any interference with maritime traffic would prompt an immediate reconsideration of that decision.
The strikes, part of a campaign called Operation Epic Fury, mark the first significant attack on Kharg Island since the conflict began two weeks ago. Prior to this, Iran continued exporting oil at levels higher than before the war, according to reporting from the Wall Street Journal.
Experts have warned that control of Kharg Island could have devastating consequences for Iran’s economy and government. Mohammed Soliman, a senior fellow at the Middle East Institute in Washington, said that losing Kharg, even temporarily, would strain both the military budget and essential public services, creating a simultaneous security and societal crisis. Former administration official John Ullyot echoed the sentiment, noting that seizing the island and its facilities could “cripple the regime.”
Despite these warnings, Trump indicated that capturing Kharg is not currently a priority. In an interview with Fox News Radio, he described the question of taking the island as “foolish” and stressed the flexibility of his decisions. “It’s not high on the list, but it’s one of many options, and I can change my mind in seconds,” he said.
The attack underscores the strategic importance of Kharg Island and the volatile nature of the conflict in the Persian Gulf. While oil exports remain untouched for now, analysts warn that any future strikes on infrastructure could have immediate global economic repercussions, heightening tensions in an already fragile region.
