Iran's Strategic Oil Island Kharg Faces Military Threat Amid Middle East Conflict Kharg Island, a small coral landmass situated in the northern Persian Gulf, has emerged as a critical hub for Iran’s oil industry. The island, located approximately 15 miles off the Iranian mainland, serves as the primary export point for nearly 90% of the country’s crude oil. Crude shipments pass through the island before traveling via the Strait of Hormuz to global markets, with a daily loading capacity of around 7 million barrels. Despite the escalating Middle East conflict, the island has so far remained untouched by U.S. and Israeli military operations. Analysts suggest that U.S. President Donald Trump may consider seizing the island as a strategic move to disrupt Iran’s oil exports and gain leverage over the regime. However, such an operation would pose significant risks. A ground troop invasion would likely draw prolonged retaliation from Iran, including drone attacks, and could further destabilize an already volatile region. The potential seizure of Kharg Island could also exacerbate energy market volatility, as oil prices have already surged past $100 per barrel due to ongoing hostilities. Petras Katinas, a research fellow at the London-based defense think tank RUSI, warned that capturing the island would “cut off Iran’s oil lifeline,” a vital revenue source for the regime. He noted that while the Strait of Hormuz has become a bottleneck for Iranian exports, controlling Kharg Island could provide the U.S. with leverage during future negotiations, regardless of which political faction emerges victorious. However, Katinas emphasized that the U.S. administration appears hesitant to commit ground forces to such an operation.#iran #donald_trump #strait_of_hormuz #kharg_island #rusi
