As the US-Israel-Iran war intensifies, a small island in the Persian Gulf has emerged at the centre of strategic calculations in Washington.
Despite weeks of strikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure,
Kharg Island—Iran’s main oil export hub—has remained largely untouched. Now, according to an Axios report, the Donald Trump administration is considering new military options around the island, including potential special-forces operations tied to the broader war strategy against Tehran.
What Is Kharg Island?
A small Iranian island in the Persian Gulf, about 25-30 kilometres off Iran’s coast, Kharg Island plays an outsized role in Iran’s economy despite its tiny geography.
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The island serves as Iran’s primary crude oil export terminal, handling around 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports, according to The Economic Times. Its loading terminals can handle up to about seven million barrels of oil per day.
Since the 1960s, when the facility was expanded with foreign investment, Kharg has become the backbone of Iran’s energy exports and a key link between Iranian oil fields and global markets.
Why It Matters In The Current War
The Iran conflict has already targeted nuclear facilities, missile bases and military infrastructure across the country. But energy infrastructure like Kharg has largely been avoided.
According to The Financial Times, that restraint reflects how critical the island is for both Iran’s economy and global oil markets. Analysts say attacking or disrupting the facility could severely damage Iran’s ability to export crude.
At the same time, it could trigger wider consequences such as sharp spikes in global oil prices, disruption of tanker traffic in the Gulf, and escalation into a broader regional energy war. Because Kharg sits close to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important oil chokepoints, any military action around it carries global economic implications.
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Why Is Trump Eyeing The Island Now?
According to The Times of India, the Trump administration is examining options involving Kharg Island as part of its strategy to weaken Iran’s ability to sustain the war.
Reports cited by Axios reveal that US and Israeli officials have discussed special-forces missions inside Iran aimed at securing nuclear material or strategic sites during later phases of the conflict. Parallelly, some officials and analysts have floated the possibility of seizing or neutralising Kharg Island, which hosts Iran’s largest oil export terminal.
The strategic logic is simple: controlling or disabling the island would dramatically reduce Iran’s oil revenues—the main financial lifeline of the government.
The New Arab News reported that a US official suggested such a move could help put Iran’s vast oil resources “out of the hands” of the regime and tighten economic pressure during the conflict.
Why Was The Island Untouched So Far?
According to Financial Times, despite its importance, Kharg Island has so far been spared direct attacks during the conflict.
Energy experts call the decision deliberate, saying destroying the island’s export infrastructure could destabilise global energy markets, push oil prices sharply higher, and complicate post-war reconstruction if the regime changes.
Because of these risks, Washington and its allies have largely avoided targeting Kharg even while striking other Iranian infrastructure.
Instead, the strategy has focused on degrading Iran’s military and nuclear capabilities first.
The Nuclear Angle
The island’s growing relevance is also tied to the broader nuclear crisis.
According to Anadolu Ajansi, Iran is believed to possess about 450 kg of uranium enriched to 60 per cent, a level that could potentially be upgraded to weapons-grade material in a short time.
Reports suggest the US and Israel are considering targeted special-forces missions to secure or neutralise such nuclear material if Iran’s defences weaken further during the war. Any operation around Kharg Island could therefore form part of a larger plan to restrict Iran’s military and economic capabilities simultaneously.
Why The Island Could Shape The War’s Next Phase
The debate over Kharg Island highlights the complex choices facing Washington.
Attacking or seizing the island could cripple Iran’s oil revenues, weaken the government’s ability to fund the war, and shift the economic balance of the conflict. However, it could also trigger a major escalation in the Gulf and disrupt global energy markets.
For now, Kharg Island remains a strategic pressure point rather than an active battlefield. But as the conflict intensifies, analysts say the island’s future could become a key factor in determining how the war unfolds.
