As theUS-Israel-Iran warintensifies, 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.

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.

ALSO READ |Crude Oil Above $115, Strait Of Hormuz Disrupted: How Will It Impact The Indian Economy?

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.

Source: World News in news18.com, World Latest News, World News