A satellite tv for pc picture reveals an oil terminal at Kharg Island, Iran, February 25, 2026.
2026 Planet Labs Pbc | By way of Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he directed the U.S. Central Command to hold out a bombing raid, hitting army targets on Iran’s Kharg Island.
“Moments in the past, at my path, the US Central Command executed one of the crucial 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,” the president wrote in a Fact Social submit.
He added that he had “chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island.”
“Nonetheless, ought to Iran, or anybody else, do something to intervene with the Free and Protected Passage of Ships via the Strait of Hormuz, I’ll instantly rethink this choice,” Trump wrote.
Analysts have stated that the prospect of a U.S. transfer to grab Kharg Island, a strategically very important hub sometimes called Iran’s “oil lifeline,” is taken into account extraordinarily excessive danger, each from a geopolitical and financial standpoint.
The five-mile-long coral island, which is situated about 15 miles off the coast of mainland Iran within the waters of the northern Persian Gulf, has been left untouched via practically two weeks of U.S. and Israeli-led strikes towards Iran.
The Trump administration has mentioned seizing the island, in accordance with an Axios report on March 7, citing 4 unnamed sources with data of the discussions.
White Home officers have beforehand stated they anticipate oil costs to fall dramatically as soon as Operation Epic Fury involves an finish, whereas White Home press secretary Karoline Leavitt has stated the president “properly” retains all choices on the desk.
Kharg Island has been thrust into the worldwide highlight as a result of it’s considered one in every of Iran’s most delicate financial targets. The terminal accounts for round 90% of the nation’s crude exports and has a loading capability of roughly 7 million barrels per day.
Analysts say that any try to assault or seize it could require a floor troop operation, which the U.S. seems reluctant to undertake. An assault would additionally doubtless immediate a sustained enhance to already hovering oil costs.
On Friday, Brent crude oil futures closed above $100 per barrel for the second straight day, and the worldwide oil benchmark’s value has surged greater than 40% because the Iran battle began.
