US President Donald Trump on Friday evening announced that he had ordered an attack on Kharg Island, a small but strategically important island in the Persian Gulf where 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports flow.
“A short time ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command carried out one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East History, completely obliterating every MILITARY target on Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump said. he said in a post on Social Reality.
US President Donald Trump on Friday evening announced that he had ordered an attack on Kharg Island, a small but strategically important island in the Persian Gulf where 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports flow.
“A short time ago, at my direction, the United States Central Command carried out one of the most powerful bombing raids in Middle East History, completely obliterating every MILITARY target on Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump said. he said in a post on Social Reality.
Trump said that “for reasons of decency,” he chose “NOT to dismantle the Oil Infrastructure on the Island,” but added that “if Iran, or anyone else, does anything to interfere with Free and Safe Navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, I will reconsider this decision immediately.”
Kharg is Iran’s main oil export hub, and its processing facilities are vital to Iran’s economy. The island, which is only 15 miles off the coast of mainland Iran, covers approx 950 million barrels crude oil per year.
The attacks on Kharg, which came almost two weeks after the US and Israel started war with Iran, come as Tehran has targeted. more than twelve ships in the Strait of Hormuz—a narrow waterway through which about 20 percent of crude oil and liquefied natural gas normally travel—bringing traffic in the dangerous maritime zone to a standstill in an effort to raise oil prices and increase pressure on Washington over the conflict. The price of Brent crude, the international oil benchmark, settled above $100 a barrel on Friday—a gain of more than 40 percent since the war started at the end of February.
For several days, there have been rumors that the United States may take action to strike or seize Kharg to gain leverage against Iran. But experts have warned that arresting Kharg carried significant risks, which may help explain why Trump took what could be seen as the smallest step in launching a strike.
“There are benefits and possibilities to capture Kharg Island,” Gregory Brew, an Iran expert and senior analyst at Eurasia Group, told. Foreign Policy on Thursday. “Theoretically, it would put the United States in a position to block Iran’s oil sales. It would give Trump an opportunity to claim a more certain victory, given that he can claim that the United States has greater Iranian capabilities. It would further weaken the regime, given that they will not be able to continue selling oil at the same rate they are doing now.”
“But there are also big gaps,” Brew added. “For one, Iran is not going to lose export capacity at all. They have other export facilities. They have some in the Gulf – they have one export facility in Jask, which is east of the Strait of Hormuz, which they have also started to use more. So, if they lose Kharg, they will not lose export capacity. They can continue to do that, at least at a lower level.”
Seizing Kharg would also carry significant risks for any US troops involved. Such a move on Iranian soil could trigger a “very aggressive” response from the government and “put those troops in harm’s way,” Brew said, exposing them “to fire and missiles in a way that they would not or have never been at American bases in other difficult locations.”
The Pentagon has ordered more troops and warships into the region as the war continues, on every front report on Friday, including the amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli and about 2,500 Marines. This gives Trump more options if he decides to take further action against Kharg.
Trump has long contemplated seizing Kharg Island—at least since 1988—a fact that Fox News Radio host Brian Kilmeade brought up in interview and Trump on Thursday night that aired on Friday. Kilmeade asked Trump if he was considering taking such a step now.
Trump’s response was surprising in what up until then had been a friendly conversation. “Brian, I can’t answer a question like that, and you shouldn’t ask, and you shouldn’t even ask. It’s one of many different things. It’s not high on the list. But it’s one of many different things, and I can change my mind in a second,” Trump said.
He continued: “But, you know, for you to ask a question, who would answer a question like that? I mean, you’re asking me a question. Kharg Island, I’m thinking – who would ask a question like that, and what fool would answer it? Okay? Let’s say I would, or let’s say I didn’t. Why would I let you think about Brian, why would I tell you? uh, let me know what time and when it’s going to happen.’ No, it’s kind of a silly question—it surprises you a little because you’re a smart person.”
This post is part of FP’s ongoing coverage. Read more here.
