Located in the northern part of the Strait of Hormuz, about 30 kilometers from the coast, Kharg Island hosts Iran’s largest crude oil export terminal. It had long been considered an obvious target that Donald Trump had until now avoided striking, due to fears of an uncontrolled surge in global oil prices. The conflict, triggered by the Israeli-American offensive in Iran on February 28, has already caused a significant rise in the price of oil, which now stands at around $100 per barrel.
Just last Thursday, the occupant of the White House had indicated that Kharg was not among the priority targets of U.S. operations in Iran, while admitting that he could “change his mind from one second to the next.” That has now happened. He is aware that taking control of the site could deal a severe blow to the Iranian economy. According to the British broadcaster BBC, such an operation could suffocate Iran’s oil exports and could also provide the United States with a strategic platform to launch attacks toward the mainland.
Editorial team/le7tv