Kharg Island, located in the Persian Gulf about 25 kilometers off Iran’s coast, serves as the linchpin of Iran’s oil export network, handling approximately 90% of the country’s crude oil shipments to the global market. The island is home to one of the world’s largest oil ports, with terminals capable of berthing more than a dozen oil tankers—including supertankers up to 500,000 tons—and oil pumping facilities that can transfer 60,000 tons of crude per hour.

Trump confirmed the U.S. military operation during public remarks, noting that the strikes specifically targeted and “destroyed” military installations on Kharg Island, while the island’s oil infrastructure was left intact. “Out of morality, we chose not to destroy the oil