The US President Donald Trump has threatened that more strikes on Kharg Island are possible, saying the site has already been damaged but may still be targeted again “just for fun”. The comments were made on Saturday, 14th March, as the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran went into its third week. The conflict has raised concerns about a wider conflict and possible disruption to global oil supplies.
Speaking to NBC News, Trump said recent American airstrikes had “demolished” much of the island, which serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal. He added that Iran seemed willing to discuss ending the conflict, but the conditions being offered were not acceptable to Washington. “The terms aren’t good enough yet,” he said, adding that the US might strike the location again.
Kharg Island lies about 30 kilometres off Iran’s southern coast and handles nearly 90 % of the country’s crude oil exports. The island is located close to the Strait of Hormuz, one of the world’s most important sea routes through which around one-fifth of global oil supply moves. Any long disruption in this region could push energy prices higher and affect supply chains worldwide.
Trump also claimed that the US recently carried out one of the strongest bombing operations in the Middle East in recent years. Writing on Truth Social, he said American forces had destroyed all military targets on Kharg Island. At the same time, he said Washington had deliberately avoided hitting the island’s oil infrastructure.
“For reasons of decency, I chose not to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,” Trump wrote, warning that this restraint could change if Iran interferes with ships moving through the Strait of Hormuz.
The conflict has also begun affecting other parts of the region. On Saturday, 14th March, a missile hit a helipad inside the United States Embassy Baghdad compound, while debris from an intercepted Iranian drone landed near an oil facility in Fujairah.
Iran has warned that it may block the Strait of Hormuz and has also cautioned neighbouring countries hosting US forces that they could become targets. Tehran’s military command accused the US of using ports in the UAE to carry out attacks and mentioned locations such as Jebel Ali Port, Khalifa Port and Fujairah Port.
Trump responded by saying Iran’s military power had already been destroyed and claimed that several countries affected by the situation would send warships to help the United States keep the Strait of Hormuz open and secure. Analysts say that if attacks on Kharg Island continue or Iran attempts to block the Strait of Hormuz, the conflict could grow bigger and seriously disturb global oil markets.
