US Targets Military Bases On Iran’s Key Oil Export Hub Kharg Island, Trump Says Infrastructure Spared

US President Donald Trump announced late on Friday (13 March) that the United States had carried out a major bombing raid on Iran's strategically vital Kharg Island, targeting military installations while deliberately sparing oil infrastructure.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump described it as "one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East", claiming US Central Command had "totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran's crown jewel".

Kharg Island, located approximately 25 kilometres off Iran's southwestern coast in the Persian Gulf, serves as the country's primary oil export terminal and handles roughly 90 per cent of Iran's crude exports.

The terminal has a loading capacity of approximately seven million barrels per day, making it one of the nation's most sensitive economic targets.

Iranian state media reported more than 15 explosions on the island, with field sources citing strikes on army defences, the Joshen Sea Base, an airport control tower and a helicopter hangar, though Tehran insisted no oil infrastructure was damaged.

Trump stated he had "chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island" for "reasons of decency", but issued a stark warning that this decision would be "immediately" reconsidered should Iran or any other party interfere with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

The strait, through which approximately 20 per cent of the world's oil and gas normally passes, has seen traffic collapse following Iranian attacks on vessels since the war began on 28th February.

The strike on Kharg Island marks a significant escalation in the two-week conflict between the United States and Iran.

Oil prices have surged more than 40 per cent since hostilities commenced, with Brent crude futures closing above $100 per barrel for the second consecutive day on Friday.

Iranian crude exports from Kharg have already fallen by approximately 52 per cent since late February, with tankers increasingly relying on location spoofing to obscure activity.

Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf had earlier warned that the country would "abandon all restraint" if there was any US aggression against Iranian islands across the Persian Gulf.

Following the strike, Tehran threatened retaliatory attacks on regional oil facilities owned by companies with American shares or those cooperating with the United States.

Trump told reporters before boarding Air Force One for Florida that his military campaign will last "as long as necessary", adding that the US was "way ahead of schedule".

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