The US has struck military targets on Iran’s Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf. The Iranian-linked Fars News Agency announced that despite the attacks, the oil infrastructure on the island was not damaged.

The US military conducted air strikes against military targets on the strategic Kharg Island located in the Persian Gulf. US President Donald Trump announced that the operation was carried out by the US Central Command (CENTCOM) and that military targets on the island were hit.

In a statement made via the social media platform Truth Social, Trump said the attack was “one of the most powerful bombings in Middle East history.” Stating that the oil facilities on the island were not targeted, Trump said that this decision could be re-evaluated if the free passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz is prevented.

The Iranian-linked Fars News Agency reported that following the US attacks, the oil infrastructure on Kharg Island was not damaged. According to the agency, the attacks targeted military defence points on the island along with the Jowshan Naval Base, the airport control tower and a helicopter hangar.

It was stated that more than 15 explosions were heard on the island following the attack and dense smoke rose from the region, while it was noted that the Iranian army’s air defence system became operational again a few hours later.

Retaliation warning from Iran

Iranian state media, in a report based on the Khatam al-Anbiya military command headquarters in Tehran, warned of retaliation against potential attacks on the country’s oil and energy infrastructure.

The statement indicated that if Iran’s oil and energy facilities are targeted, facilities in the region belonging to oil companies with US shares or those cooperating with the US could be targeted.

The heart of Iranian oil: Kharg Island

Located approximately 25 kilometres off the Iranian coast in the Persian Gulf, Kharg Island serves as a strategic centre for the country’s oil exports. According to experts, approximately 90 per cent of Iran’s oil trade is carried out through this island.

Crude oil extracted from major oil fields such as Ahvaz, Marun and Gachsaran is transported to Kharg Island via pipelines and is shipped from here to world markets via tankers through the Strait of Hormuz.

Experts state that an attack on the island could affect not only Iran’s oil revenues but also global energy markets and lead to an increase in oil prices.