Words by ITV News’ Lucy L. Middleton<\/p>\n
There is renewed speculation that the US may try to seize Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf.<\/p>\n
Multiple reports in US media suggest senior White House officials are considering an operation to take over the coral island, which sits 16 miles from the southwestern shore of mainland Iran.<\/p>\n
Trump said on Friday that the US could “take out the island anytime we want”, telling reporters at the White House that it “sits there so totally unprotected”. <\/p>\n
ITV News takes a closer look.<\/p>\n
Why is Kharg Island important?<\/p>\n
Kharg Island is Iran’s primary oil hub – the terminal for nearly all of Iran’s oil seaborne exports. <\/p>\n
Measuring just five miles in length, it is surrounded by much deeper water than Iran’s coastline, meaning the world’s largest tankers can berth there. <\/p>\n
This makes it Iran’s main loading, collection and storage point for crude oil, and a complex network of pipelines connects the island with onshore Iranian processing facilities. <\/p>\n
Around 94% of Iran’s crude exports originated from Kharg in the last 12 months, data analytics company Kpler showed. <\/p>\n
The terminal has remained active during the war, and handled 14 million barrels of crude oil during the first two weeks of March, generating revenue for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). <\/p>\n
The island is a vital part of Iran’s economy Credit: Getty Images via CNN Newsource<\/p>\n
“If Iran loses control or the ability to operate its oil infrastructure from Kharg Island, its economy is annihilated. He who controls Kharg Island, controls the destiny of this war,” US Senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, posted on X on March 14. <\/p>\n
About 20,000 people are reported to live on the island, with most being oil workers and their families. <\/p>\n
Is the island protected?<\/p>\n
Kharg Island is sometimes referred to as “Forbidden Island” due to its extreme security. <\/p>\n
The IRGC Navy maintains a presence on the land, including the 112th Zolfaghar Surface Combat Brigade, a unit equipped with fast-attack boats that have anti-ship missiles, rockets and naval mines. <\/p>\n
It is also reported to have ground-based air defence units comprising of launchers, radars, and control centres, and bunkers for naval mines and missiles. <\/p>\n
President Donald Trump has said Iran and the US are negotiating Credit: AP<\/p>\n
Has the US struck the island before?<\/p>\n
The US bombed Kharg Island during the second week of the war – and Trump issued a warning it would strike again if the Strait of Hormuz is not reopened fully. <\/p>\n
“The United States Central Command executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran\u2019s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” Trump posted on March 13. <\/p>\n
“I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island. However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision.”<\/p>\n
US Central Command claimed it had destroyed naval mine storage facilities and missile storage bunkers in the attack. <\/p>\n
Iran\u2019s semi-official Fars news agency said the strikes had caused no damage to oil infrastructure, but an air defence facility, naval base, airport control tower and helicopter hangar belonging to an offshore oil company had been targeted. <\/p>\n
The US is placing Iran under pressure to unblock the Strait of Hormuz<\/p>\n
What impact could a further attack have?<\/p>\n
Seizing Kharg could give the US a bargaining tool against Iran in the battle to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz, experts have said, as disrupting oil exports would cause economic devastation to the country. <\/p>\n
However, it would also significantly escalate the ongoing conflict, with Iran vowing to avenge any action taken on the island. <\/p>\n
A military source told IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News the regime would block other vital waterways such as the Bab al-Mandab Strait and the Red Sea, if Kharg were invaded. <\/p>\n
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