Lead

US President Donald Trump has once again turned his focus to Kharg Island, Iran’s main oil export hub, after declaring an interim ceasefire with Iran “over” and warning the US was preparing more strikes. Speaking on the sidelines of the NATO summit in Turkiye on Wednesday, following US strikes on Iranian targets in response to attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, Trump told reporters: “I give them a little warning. We’re going to hit them hard tonight.”

Trump confirmed that Kharg Island was attacked and repeated a threat he has made throughout the conflict: that the US could seize the island, which handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports, according to Al Jazeera.

Coverage comparison

Two news organisations have covered the story from different angles. Al Jazeera’s report focuses on Kharg Island as a focal point in rising Gulf tensions, emphasising Trump’s renewed threats and the island’s strategic importance. TASS — English, meanwhile, reports Trump’s comments from an interview with Fox News, where he said he doesn't want to hit the oil facilities because of the impact on the world economy.

While Al Jazeera portrays the island as a central point of potential military action, TASS reports Trump’s hesitancy to strike the facilities, highlighting his concern for the global economy. Both sources confirm the island’s importance as Iran’s largest oil export terminal, with Al Jazeera noting it handles about 90 percent of Iran’s oil exports.

Key claims

  • Trump does not rule out the possibility of ordering strikes on oil facilities on Iran’s Kharg Island at some point, according to TASS, citing an interview with Fox News.
  • In that interview, Trump said: “I said, hit everything but the oil. Just leave that little area... Don't touch the oil, because I don't want that in terms of the world economy.” He added: “So we haven't hit that. At some point, we could, but I think it's unlikely, as far as taking it is concerned.”
  • Kharg Island is home to Iran’s largest oil export terminal, as reported by both TASS and Al Jazeera.
  • The US carried out strikes on Iranian targets in response to attacks on three tankers in the Strait of Hormuz, according to Al Jazeera.
  • Trump declared the interim ceasefire with Iran “over” and warned the US was preparing more strikes, Al Jazeera reported.
  • The island’s strategic importance and potential impact on global energy markets make it a significant target, Al Jazeera noted.

Background

Kharg Island sits in the Gulf, about 55km (34 miles) off Iran’s coast in Bushehr province. It is only about eight kilometres (5 miles) long and 4-5km (2.5-3 miles) wide, but its location makes it one of the country’s most strategically important pieces of territory, according to Al Jazeera. The deep waters surrounding the island allow massive oil tankers to dock and load crude bound for Asian markets. Widely known by Iranians as the “Forbidden Island”, access is tightly controlled by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC); only those with official security clearances are allowed to enter, Al Jazeera reported.

Al Jazeera also reported that more than 60 boats used by the IRGC were hit, according to US Central Command. Trump said the US had “knocked out 28 boats last night,” would probably hit more later, and confirmed Kharg Island was attacked before repeating his threat.