Kharg Island
Iran's primary oil export terminal responsible for approximately 90% of the country's crude oil exports.
Last refreshed: 29 March 2026 · Appears in 1 active topic
Can the US seize Iran's oil lifeline without igniting a wider war?
Latest on Kharg Island
- What is Kharg Island?
- Kharg Island is a small Iranian island in the Persian Gulf that handles approximately 90% of Iran's crude oil exports, making it the country's most critical energy infrastructure.Source: background
- Why did the US strike Kharg Island?
- US forces struck military positions on Kharg Island on 14 March 2026, targeting Joshen Sea Base and the airport control tower while sparing the oil terminal, as part of a broader air campaign against Iran.Source: event
- Is the US planning to seize Kharg Island?
- Pentagon sources confirmed in March 2026 that the US was actively planning to seize Kharg Island, combining a Marine amphibious assault with an 82nd Airborne Division follow-on to capture Iran's main oil terminal.Source: event
- How much of Iran's oil goes through Kharg Island?
- Approximately 90% of Iran's seaborne crude oil exports pass through Kharg Island's terminals and single-point mooring buoys before reaching tankers bound for China, India, and other buyers.Source: background
- What happened to Kharg Island in the Iran-Iraq War?
- During the Iran-Iraq War (1980-88) Iraq struck Kharg Island more than 50 times. Iran repaired the terminal after each attack, demonstrating its strategic importance and Iran's commitment to keeping it operational.Source: background
Background
Kharg handles approximately 90% of Iran's seaborne crude exports, the revenue from which funds state budgets, IRGC operations, and proxy networks across the region. Nearly all tankers loading at Kharg must transit the Strait of Hormuz before reaching buyers in China, India, and beyond, making the terminal the single greatest point of leverage over Tehran's economy.
Kharg Island sits 25 kilometres off Iran's southwestern coast in the Persian Gulf and is the country's dominant crude oil export hub. US strikes on 14 March 2026 targeted the island's military positions, including Joshen Sea Base and the airport control tower, while deliberately sparing the oil terminal infrastructure. Pentagon planners subsequently confirmed active preparations to seize the island by force, combining a Marine amphibious assault with a follow-on 82nd Airborne Division drop.
Iran responded to the threat of seizure by mining Kharg's beaches and fortifying its defences, while Speaker Ghalibaf threatened UAE infrastructure strikes if the island were taken. related event Oil prices surged above $110 per barrel as the standoff escalated.
