Overview
- Neither the United States nor Israel has attacked Kharg Island, but debate has intensified over whether to seize or blockade the terminal that handles roughly 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
- U.S. Central Command assessments cited in reporting say Iran’s air defenses are severely degraded and the sparsely populated island is vulnerable to amphibious assault.
- President Trump has not ordered an operation and has refused to rule out deploying U.S. ground forces, saying he does not have reservations about boots on the ground.
- Industry data from Kpler indicate Iranian loadings from Kharg surged from about 1.5 million barrels a day to roughly 4 million in the weeks before the conflict.
- Analysts warn that disabling or controlling Kharg could cripple Tehran’s revenue but risk a global energy shock, with WTI crude quoted as rising from about $65 to $90 a barrel in recent days.