"In a March 13 post on Truth Social, Trump announced the U.S. Central Command completed "one of the most powerful bombing raids in History of the Middle East" when it "totally obliterated" military targets on Iran's Kharg Island. Even though he says the U.S. military left the oil assets alone, he threatened to strike those, too, if Iran continued to block the safe passage of ships and large oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz."
"The strait is a critical oil transport zone. In 2024, an average of 20 million barrels a day traveled through the strait, equaling about 20% of global petroleum liquids consumption. Iran has threatened to strike any ship that travels through the strait that isn't carrying Iranian oil, with some limited exceptions."
"Trump said in recent days that he is considering strikes on oil pipelines located on Kharg Island. "We can do that on five minutes' notice. It'll be over. But for purposes of someday rebuilding that country, I guess we did the right thing, but it may not stay that way," Trump told reporters Monday."
Kharg Island, Iran's primary oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, has become a strategic target in the U.S.-Iran conflict. The U.S. military conducted major bombing raids on military installations while leaving oil assets intact, though President Trump threatened further strikes on oil infrastructure if Iran blocks safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz. The strait handles approximately 20 million barrels daily, representing 20% of global petroleum consumption. Iran has threatened to strike non-Iranian vessels transiting the strait. The Trump administration proposed escorting ships through the waterway but has not yet implemented this strategy. Damage to Kharg Island's oil infrastructure would severely impact Iran's economy and destabilize global energy markets already experiencing price volatility.
Read at www.npr.org
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