U.S. Strikes More Than 90 Iranian Military Targets on Kharg Island, Oil Infrastructure Spared
U.S. forces carried out a large-scale precision strike on Iran’s Kharg Island on Friday night, hitting more than 90 military targets while leaving the island’s critical oil infrastructure intact, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said Saturday.
Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export terminal, lies roughly 300 miles northwest of the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow Persian Gulf waterway through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil supply passes.
CENTCOM said the operation destroyed naval mine storage facilities, missile storage bunkers and several other military sites on the island.
Speculation has grown in recent days that President Donald Trump could attempt to seize Kharg Island after multiple news outlets, citing U.S. officials, reported that about 2,500 U.S. Marines and an amphibious assault ship are heading to the Middle East.
On Saturday, Lindsey Graham, a Republican senator who has played an influential role in shaping Trump’s Iran policy said controlling the island could significantly shorten the conflict.
“President Trump’s decision to take the war to Kharg Island – the crown jewel of Iran’s oil and gas economy – was necessary, bold and in my view, highly effective. This will help shorten the war,” he wrote on X.
“If Iran loses control or the ability to operate its oil infrastructure from Kharg Island, its economy is annihilated. He who controls Kharg Island, controls the destiny of this war,” he added.
President Donald Trump on Friday warned that oil facilities in Kharg Island could be targeted if Iran continues interfering with shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.
“Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the world has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the Island,” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Friday evening.
“However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision,” he added.
Iran responded by threatening to reduce U.S.-linked oil facilities in the Gulf states to “a pile of ashes” if such strikes were carried out.
The strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island came amid escalating conflict involving the U.S., Israel and Iran, now entering its third week.
Crude oil prices have already surged more than 40% since the conflict began. Analysts warn that a direct strike on Kharg Island’s export facilities could remove up to 2 million barrels per day from global supply, potentially triggering a major shock to energy markets.
Despite the attack, Iran’s state media reported that oil exports from the island continued normally. Kharg Island currently handles between about 1.1 million and 1.5 million barrels of Iranian oil shipments per day, according to tanker tracking data.
