Trump bombs Iran’s Kharg Island, warns oil exports could be next

PRESIDENT of the United States, Donald Trump, said American forces carried out a large-scale bombing operation on Kharg Island in Iran, striking military installations on the strategic Persian Gulf outpost while cautioning that the country’s oil export infrastructure could be targeted if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz continues to be disrupted.

In a statement shared on social media, Trump said the attack was conducted by the United States Central Command under his orders, describing the operation as ‘one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of the Middle East.’ He added that American forces had destroyed all designated military targets on the island, according to Oilprice.com.

Despite the strike, Trump said the United States intentionally avoided hitting the island’s oil facilities, which manage most of Iran’s crude exports to global markets.

“I chose not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island for reasons of decency,” Trump wrote, warning that the restraint could end if Iran interferes with commercial shipping moving through the Strait of Hormuz.

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Speaking earlier to reporters on Friday, Trump indicated the military campaign could continue indefinitely, saying operations were progressing faster than expected. He also hinted that the U.S. Navy may soon begin escorting commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz as attacks on maritime traffic escalate.

Located roughly 25 kilometres off Iran’s southwestern coastline, Kharg Island is central to the country’s oil export system. The terminal is responsible for about 90 percent of Iran’s crude shipments, loading millions of barrels daily onto tankers primarily bound for Asian buyers.

Because such a large share of exports flows through a single hub, the island is widely viewed as a vital economic artery for Iran. Analysts warn that damaging or destroying the facility could severely weaken the country’s economy for an extended period, while also triggering a sharp spike in global oil prices.

Until now, military operations by the United States and Israel in the ongoing conflict have largely focused on Iranian military and nuclear assets. While some oil sites in other parts of Iran have been struck, Kharg Island’s major storage tanks, pipelines and export jetties had largely remained intact prior to the latest raid.