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US-Israel-Iran warfare: Can US atomize Kharg Island? Why is it the “crown jewel” or “orphan pearl” of Iran? Will destroying Kharg island affect world oil economy? News18 explains
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Kharg Island handles 90–95% of Iran’s oil exports
US spared Kharg’s oil products and companies however warned of more strikes
Kharg’s destruction can even spike world oil costs to $150 per barrel.
Kharg Island, Iran’s most serious oil export hub, has change into a main purpose within the escalating warfare. (AI generated for representation)
US President Donald Trump has threatened extra strikes on Iran’s Kharg Island oil export hub and told allies to deploy warships to stable the Strait of Hormuz, an artery for world strength provides, as Tehran vowed to intensify its response.
With the US-Israeli warfare on Iran in its third week, Trump talked about US strikes had “utterly demolished” much of the island and warned of more, telling NBC News on Saturday, “We may hit it a few more times just for fun.”
The remarks marked a involving escalation from Trump, who had beforehand talked about the US change into targeting handiest militia sites on Kharg, and undercut diplomatic efforts. His administration has rebuffed efforts by Center Jap allies to commence negotiations, three sources told Reuters.
Kharg Island, Iran’s most serious oil export hub, has change into a main purpose within the escalating US-Israel warfare with Iran. In most cases known as Iran’s “crown jewel“, the island is the terminal for roughly 90–95% of Iran’s coarse oil exports.
US strikes Iran’s Kharg island: Can or no longer or no longer it’s destroyed?
Protection power analysts and US officers verify the U.S. has the particular functionality to atomize the island’s infrastructure.
On March 13, 2026, the US Central Impart (CENTCOM) executed what President Trump described as indubitably one of many “strongest bombing raids” in Middle Eastern history. The strikes hit over 90 military targets, specifically aiming to “obliterate” storage products and companies for naval mines and missiles ancient by the IRGC to dam the Strait of Hormuz.
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Trump talked about the US militia had closely bombed targets on the island, furthermore threatening to hit the island’s oil infrastructure. Declaring that every militia purpose change into obliterated, Trump wrote on social media, “I essentially maintain chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. On the opposite hand, must Iran, or anyone else, attain anything to interfere with the Free and Protected Passage of Ships thru the Strait of Hormuz, I will at once rethink.”
Both US and Iranian sources confirm that oil facilities were deliberately spared in the initial raid. Trump stated this was done for “reasons of decency” however warned that strength infrastructure would be “next” if Iran continues to interfere with international shipping.
On March 15, Trump escalated his rhetoric, suggesting the U.S. may hit the island “a few more times just for fun”, per Al Jazeera.
What Iran talked about about Kharg island attacks
Iran’s Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Sunday accused the US of launching attacks on two Iranian islands within the Persian Gulf from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and warned that Tehran will retort, per Iranian mumble media Press TV.
Araghchi talked about the attacks centered Kharg Island, which hosts Iran’s major oil export terminals, and Abu Musa, a strategic island near the entrance of the Strat of Hormuz.
“Final night they attacked Kharg Island and Abu Musa Island with the artillery-rocket machine HIMARS, which is a temporary-differ rocket machine,” he said.
He claimed the rockets were launched from areas within the UAE, including Ras Al Khaimah and an home shut to Dubai. “They launched these rockets from the soil of our neighbours. It is crystal particular they’re the exercise of our neighbours’ territory to assault us, and here is and not using a doubt unacceptable,” he said.
Press TV reported Araghchi as announcing that Iranian forces tracked the attacks and warned that launching weapons from densely populated areas change into extraordinarily unhealthy. He added that Iran would retort, however would exercise warning to help far flung from hitting residential areas.
“What we’re doing inside the framework of legitimate defence is targeting American bases, products and companies, property and pursuits, which unfortunately would be found within the territories of our neighbours,” he said.
According to Press TV, the strikes did not hit Iranian energy infrastructure but caused damage to military sites on the two islands. “We warn the UAE leadership that the Islamic Republic of Iran views it as its legitimate right to strike the origins of American missile launches,” Zolfaghari talked about, per Press TV.
Why Kharg island issues
Kharg Island can load as a lot as 10 supertankers concurrently and has a loading ability of roughly 7 million barrels per day. Despite the heavy bombing of militia sites, Iranian mumble media experiences that oil export operations are continuing as widespread.
The threat to Kharg has contributed to world oil costs surging toward $150 per barrel, as analysts warn that a pudgy destruction of the terminal would cripple Iran’s economy and trigger a world strength shock, per data experiences.
Geographic and historic context
It is far a tiny coral island within the northern Persian Gulf, positioned about 25–30 km (15–18 miles) off the Iranian flee near the port of Bushehr.
It is indubitably one of many few Gulf islands with natural freshwater, which supported historic settlements and exchange for hundreds of years.
The “Forbidden Island”: Due to its strategic importance, access is strictly limited and it is heavily guarded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Why is Kharg island called Orphan Pearl?
Orphan Pearl or Yatim-e Khalij is a famous nickname for Kharg Island. The phrase was coined in 1960 by the celebrated Iranian writer and philosopher Jalal Al-e-Ahmad. Al-e-Ahmad used the term to describe the island’s striking but lonely isolation in the Persian Gulf. He viewed the island as being separated from the Iranian mainland “like a pearl that had lost its oyster”.
What’s going to happen if Kharg Island is destroyed?
The destruction of Kharg Island — the “financial throat” of the Iranian regime — is considered a “red line” that would trigger catastrophic world and regional penalties.
Since Kharg handles merely about all of Iran’s coarse oil exports, its destruction would annihilate Iran’s economy, with 90-95% exports lost. Without oil income, Iran’s intelligence and military equipment would likely go out of money to protect the warfare.
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Roughly 2 million barrels per day would be eradicated from the world market. Analysts predict oil costs can even flee to $150 per barrel or better, fueling world inflation.
Because the major buyer of Iranian oil, China’s strength safety would be severely compromised, straining US-China household.
Iran has threatened to lower US-linked oil products and companies within the build, including those in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Kuwait, to a “pile of ashes”. Iranian officials warned they might ignite their own infrastructure rather than let it be seized. Strikes would release massive quantities of greenhouse gases and toxic smoke, potentially causing acid “black rain” over Tehran and long-term soil contamination, per an Al-Jazeera analysis.
With Reuters, ANI, agency inputs
First Printed:
March 15, 2026, 14:13 IST
Info explainers Iran’s ‘Orphan Pearl’ Kharg Island Is Precious For The World Too: Why Trump Must Spare It
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