US bombs Iran’s vital Kharg Island

[Twiglets1]

Donald Trump has said that the United States has “totally obliterated” military targets on Iran’s vital Kharg Island.

Kharg Island, located about 17 miles off the northwest coast of Iran, is the backbone of the country’s oil industry, handling approximately 90 per cent of its crude exports.

Commonly known among Iranians as the “Forbidden Island”, Kharg is shrouded in secrecy and heavily guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). It is widely regarded as Iran’s most sensitive economic asset.

Mr Trump threatened to target the island’s oil infrastructure if the Iranian regime continues to “interfere” with ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz nearby.

“The United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” he wrote on Truth Social.

“I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. 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.”

Experts have warned that bombing Kharg Island’s oil facilities could push surging prices even higher, as it would effectively remove the entirety of Iran’s crude exports from the market.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/03/14/iran-war-latest-news-trump-strait-of-hormuz-kharg-island/

More context from CNN:

Kharg Island is a coral outcrop around a third of the size of Manhattan just 25 kilometers (15 miles) off Iran’s coast, in the Persian Gulf.

Almost every day, millions of barrels of crude oil gush from Iran’s major fields – including Ahvaz, Marun and Gachsaran – through pipelines to the island, known among Iranians as the “Forbidden Island” due to tight military controls.

Its long jetties, jutting into waters deep enough to accommodate oil supertankers, make the island a critical site for oil distribution. It processes 90% of Iran’s crude exports.

The island has long been key to Iran’s economy. A CIA document from 1984 said the facilities are “the most vital in Iran’s oil system, and their continued operation is essential to Iran’s economic well-being.” Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid recently said that destroying the terminal would “cripple Iran’s economy and topple the regime.”

edition.cnn.com/world/live-news/iran-war-us-israel-trump-03-14-26

That’s a bold move. Not sure if it’s inspired or foolish.
I think terrorism is going to rocket.

The Fars News Agency, which is linked to the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps, says that more than 15 explosions were heard on the island during the US attacks.

The attacks targeted air defences, a naval base, airport control tower and a helicopter hangar, the agency says in a post on Telegram.

There was no damage to oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, Iranian state media reports.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/ckg1w1jp8kjt

Like heck would Trump consider damaging the oil infrastructure.

It's a strong warning for sure about what the US could do if the Iranian regime continues to interfere with ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz.

They do have form for not heeding warnings though.

The Telegraph report that, Experts have warned that bombing Kharg Island’s oil facilities could push surging prices even higher, as it would effectively remove the entirety of Iran’s crude exports from the market.

Oh no not Kharg Island. I cannot believe they would bomb this continental island of Iran in the Persian Gulf. The island is 25 km (16 mi) off the coast of Iran and 483 km (300 mi) northwest of the Strait of Hormuz. Its total area is 20 km2 (7.7 sq mi), and it has its own freshwater supply [1]. Administered by the adjacent coastal Bushehr province, Kharg Island provides a sea port for the export of up to 90% of Iran's oil products [2], and is therefore strategically important [citation needed]. The city of Kharg [3] and the Jazireh-ye Khark Lighthouse [4] are located on the island.

He's famously unpredictable.

To be honest I'm not sure why he didn't bomb it sooner ! If it's such an important place
Becusee of the straight of Hormuz.
All this bombing though and yet Iran is still firing out rockets !

It is a difficult balancing act. The president said that he didn’t want to annihilste the infrastucture that would imperil an incoming administration trying to rebuild a democratic country. But the job needs to be sufficient to fully eradicate the evil theocrats.

Pro war propaganda.

I know the world's economy is in free fall because of the limited oil supply.

But let's not forget that this is a war that wasn't started by Iran ...

Do you mean it hasn’t happened?

It will have been considered earlier. The Guardian refer to it as arguably the country’s most sensitive economic target.

However, Experts say bombing or capturing the site with US forces would be likely to cause a sustained increase to already surging oil prices, as it would amount to taking the entirety of Iran’s daily crude exports offline.

Why the US have chosen to do it now seems to be in response to Iran's recent actions regarding the Strait of Hormuz.

www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/11/why-irans-vital-kharg-island-oil-hub-is-still-untouched-by-us-israel-bombers

I know twiglets, it seems the USA didn't do any contingency plans for the straight ,surely a properly war gamed situation would have realised this and got into that island straight off to hold them to ransom first...look at what we can and will do...leave the shipping lane alone etc.
It's seems like a huge over site

Yet another environmental disaster in the offing. Criminals.

Indeed.

Iran are sending missiles and drones to countries and ships not connected to this war between Iran and US/Israel. Not surprised then that the military infrastructure in the island is targeted by the US.

However, "there was no damage to oil infrastructure on Kharg Island, Iranian state media reports". So an attempt to stop Iran attacks on shipping. I'm surprised at how little condemnation Iran gets from some.

Edit typo

I wonder if he will put troops on it.

I also wonder why it's so secretive maybe other stuff going on there.

Taking the island probably leaves people who did it exposed so maybe it was after other military assets were depleted.

The island would have been vigorously defended by Iran if they had the capability so it's likely the US waited until the timing was right for this operation.

Yep. 90% of Iran’s oil passes through Kharg. It is an Achilles heel in this.

Irans been clear that any attack on its oil infrastructure will result in Iran targeting all oil installations throughout the region.
Such an action would take around a decade to rebuild and devastate the global economy. In addition it would end the Petrodollar and the dollar as the global reserve currency, plunging the US into a financial crisis from which it would likely never recover.
Interesting times

Exactly this. But remember they need to be bombed to be free so its actually all their fault or something 🤔

And Trump now needs help from allies, despite having finished the war 5 times already and insulted those allies multiple times.

But does it really care if the Straights of Hormuz are closed. The US is pretty much self sufficient on oil production (importer on some grades (sour heavy) and exporter on other grades (sweet and light). It is also a major exporter of LNG. So if Hormuz is closed it really only affects their Western allies.

Meanwhile China that is a major buyer of Iranian crude continues to get free passage through Hormuz.

If you want to cripple Iran's military and ability to export terrorism then you need to cripple its economy. And if you want to cripple its economy then you need to target its oil exports to China. And if you want to to cripple Iran's oil exports then you need to destroy Kharg Island where 90% of Iran's oil exports pass through.

So the solutions seem
to be:
a) get Western allies to provide naval assistance in escorting tankers through Hormuz. If they are not willing to do that then no problem..
b) tell the Iranians to stop attacking tankers going through straights of Hormuz or if they don't then the US will destroy Kharg Island. If the Iranians don't agree to this then
c) destroy Kharg Island.
d) Iranians retaliate by attacking Gulf countries oil production, but they are doing that anyway.
e) Chinese economy suffers from lack of Iranians oil, US economy is fine, Western allies suffer but hey they declined the opportunity to escort tankers through Hormuz.

The question I have atm is if the Strait is used to get everyone to back down where is Iran in five to ten years? And what then.