- The president noted that oil facilities on Kharg Island were deliberately spared during the strike
- He also indicated that the United States Navy may soon begin escorting commercial ships through the strategic waterway to ensure safe passage
- Kharg Island holds major strategic importance for Iran’s economy because it serves as the primary hub for the country’s oil exports
Donald Trump has announced that the United States carried out major airstrikes on Iranian military positions located on Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf, warning that additional attacks could follow if Tehran continues to obstruct global energy shipments.
In a post shared on social media, Eko Hot Blog gathered that Trump described the operation as one of the most significant bombing campaigns conducted in the Middle East, stating that US forces successfully destroyed several military installations on the island.
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The president noted that oil facilities on Kharg Island were deliberately spared during the strike. However, he cautioned that the decision could change if Iran interferes with vessels moving through the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial global shipping route for oil and gas.
Earlier on Friday, Trump told reporters that US military operations would continue as long as necessary, adding that American forces were progressing faster than expected.
He also indicated that the United States Navy may soon begin escorting commercial ships through the strategic waterway to ensure safe passage.
The conflict has now entered its second week and has become one of the most intense confrontations involving Iran in recent years. According to Pete Hegseth, the US defense secretary, American and Israeli forces have struck roughly 15,000 targets since hostilities began.
Despite the strikes, Iranian officials have remained defiant. Images circulating on social media showed senior government figures, including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, attending public rallies on Friday.
Kharg Island holds major strategic importance for Iran’s economy because it serves as the primary hub for the country’s oil exports. Energy pipelines leading to the island handle a large share of the nation’s crude shipments.
Military analyst Steven Wills of the Center for Maritime Strategy explained that the island processes nearly 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.
He noted that damaging or capturing the facility could significantly weaken Tehran’s ability to sell oil internationally.
However, analysts warn that targeting energy infrastructure in the region could further disrupt global oil markets.
Energy prices have already surged amid the conflict, with Brent crude trading above $100 per barrel for a second consecutive session, marking its highest level in more than three years.
Meanwhile, shipping activity in the Strait of Hormuz has slowed dramatically, leaving millions of barrels of oil stranded in the Persian Gulf and contributing to rising fuel prices worldwide.
On Thursday, Iran’s new supreme leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, warned that Tehran would work to keep the Strait of Hormuz effectively closed and could expand the conflict if attacks by the United States and Israel continue.
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