Donald Trump Claims US Airstrike Destroyed Military Sites on Iran's Primary oil Export Terminal Kharg Island

Washington DC: US President Donald Trump has claimed that American forces carried out an airstrike on Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export terminal, describing the operation as one of the most powerful bombing raids in the history of West Asia.

In a post on social media, Trump said the strike was conducted by the United States Central Command and resulted in the destruction of all military installations on the island. However, he stated that the island’s oil infrastructure had not been targeted during the attack.

Kharg Island is a strategically critical facility that handles nearly 90 percent of Iran’s crude oil exports. Trump warned that the decision not to damage the energy infrastructure could change if Iran or any other actor attempts to disrupt the free movement of ships through the Strait of Hormuz. In such a scenario, he threatened that oil facilities on the island could be destroyed.

Earlier reports citing officials within the Trump administration suggested that the possibility of capturing Kharg Island was under consideration as the conflict in West Asia continues to escalate. Located about 30 kilometres off the Iranian coast, the island is considered one of the most sensitive energy hubs in the region.

Experts have warned that any direct attack on the island could trigger severe global repercussions. According to an assessment by JPMorgan, such a move could immediately disrupt Iran’s oil exports and provoke retaliation affecting shipping routes through the Strait of Hormuz or other regional energy infrastructure.

The Strait of Hormuz—through which roughly one-fifth of the world’s crude oil and liquefied natural gas supplies pass—has already seen major disruptions in shipping traffic. Amid rising fuel prices in the United States, Trump said the United States Navy would soon begin escorting oil tankers in an effort to restore export flows and stabilise supply.