On Friday, Trump said the US Central Command had “executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran’s crown jewel, Kharg Island”.
He added that, “for reasons of decency”, he had “chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island”.
Iranian state media reported that no damage was done to the island’s oil facilities. The Fars news agency said US attacks targeted air defences, a naval base, airport control tower and a helicopter hangar.
The country’s military warned that oil and energy infrastructure belonging to firms working with the US would “immediately be destroyed and turned into a pile of ashes” if its energy facilities were attacked.
Military action to destroy the island’s infrastructure would be hugely damaging to Iran.
It would also present a significant escalation to the conflict.
It would likely send global oil prices soaring even higher and could also lead to Iran targeting more oil infrastructure across the Middle East.
Two weeks into the war, Iran still has the capacity to launch large numbers of low-cost, high explosive drones at its Gulf Arab neighbours as well as at shipping vessels.
It could, potentially, expand those targets to include vital infrastructure like desalination plants that provide drinking water to millions.