A view of Iran’s Kharg Island, which hosts the nation’s essential crude export terminal and is liable for the overwhelming majority of its oil shipments to the world.
| Photograph Credit score: AFP
President Donald Trump mentioned on Friday (March 14, 2026) that U.S. forces have “obliterated” navy targets on Iran’s Kharg Island and warned that the oil infrastructure there could possibly be subsequent.
The small island within the Persian Gulf is the first terminal via which Iran’s oil exports move. Mr. Trump introduced the motion in a Reality Social submit as he ready to fly to Florida for the weekend.
“The US Central Command executed probably the most highly effective bombing raids within the Historical past of the Center East, and completely obliterated each MILITARY goal in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump mentioned on social media.
“I’ve chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. Nevertheless, ought to Iran, or anybody else, do something to intervene with the Free and Secure Passage of Ships via the Strait of Hormuz, I’ll instantly rethink.”
The island, situated round 30 kilometers (19 miles) off the Iranian mainland, handles roughly 90 % of Iran’s crude exports, in response to a current J.P. Morgan be aware.
Any transfer on the territory, which is about one-third the dimensions of Manhattan, would have swift repercussions, consultants mentioned.
“A direct strike would instantly halt the majority of Iran’s crude exports, possible triggering extreme retaliation within the Strait of Hormuz or in opposition to regional vitality infrastructure,” J.P. Morgan mentioned.
Iranian strikes have all however halted maritime site visitors within the Strait of Hormuz — via which a fifth of world crude oil and liquefied pure gasoline usually move — and have additionally impacted oil infrastructure in different Gulf states.
Mr. Trump on Friday (March 13, 2026) mentioned the U.S. Navy would begin escorting tankers via the straits “very quickly” to revive oil exports as he struggles to deal with hovering U.S. gasoline costs.
Kharg underwent key developments throughout Iran’s oil enlargement within the Sixties and Nineteen Seventies, with a lot of the nation’s coast too shallow for supertankers.
With inputs from AP, AFP
Revealed – March 14, 2026 06:01 am IST