US President Donald Trump said the US military carried out a major bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, a strategic hub for the country’s oil exports, while warning that Iran’s energy infrastructure could be targeted if maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz is threatened.
In a statement posted on social media early Saturday, Trump said US Central Command (CENTCOM) conducted what he described as one of the most powerful bombing operations in the region’s history, claiming that all military targets on the island were destroyed.
He added that the United States had chosen not to strike Kharg Island’s oil facilities, but warned that the decision could change if Iran or other actors interfere with the free and safe passage of ships through the vital waterway.
Located about 30 kilometres off Iran’s mainland, Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports, making it one of the most critical assets in the country’s energy infrastructure.
The island became a central export hub during Iran’s oil expansion in the 1960s and 1970s, when much of the country’s coastline was too shallow to accommodate large oil tankers.
The conflict has already disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a strategic shipping route through which around one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies normally pass.
Trump also said the US Navy will soon begin escorting oil tankers through the strait to ensure safe navigation and stabilize global energy flows amid rising tensions and increasing fuel prices.
Source: Newstimehub
