US Strikes Kharg Island, Iran's Oil Export Hub, Ahead of Hormuz Deadline

The United States bombed Iran's Kharg Island for a second time in less than a month.

The strikes targeted military bunkers and storage facilities but avoided oil infrastructure.

Akhbar as-Sa'udiyya

Iranian damage assessments found most of the island's infrastructure intact.

Trump threatened to obliterate power plants if Iran did not comply.

Kharg Island handles roughly 90% of Iran's crude oil exports.

A 1984 CIA document described it as the most vital in Iran’s oil system.

Al-Jazeera Net

Iran has alternatives but none can handle Kharg's volume.

Oil revenues remain a central source of government income.

The Strait of Hormuz carries roughly 20 million barrels of oil a day.

The conflict has sent oil and gas prices surging worldwide.

Trump-linked stock ETFs jumped more than 20% after the strikes.

Trump granted a two-week extension for diplomacy 90 minutes before his deadline.

They agreed to suspend bombing conditional on reopening the strait.

Anadolu Ajansı

Trump authorized emergency waivers for key foreign partners.