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Kharg Island, a small territory in the Persian Gulf, has returned to the spotlight after US President Donald Trump declared that the United States intends to take control of it and of Iran's key energy infrastructure.
In a post on the social network Truth Social, Trump wrote: "At some point in the not too distant future, we will take Kharg Island and other oil infrastructure points, and take complete control of their oil and gas markets."
But why is this island considered so important?
Kharg is the main point of Iran's oil exports and constitutes a vital link to the country's economy. According to estimates, about 90% of Iranian crude oil exports pass through this island, making it one of Tehran's most strategic assets.
Although it has a relatively small area, about a third of Manhattan, the island is of immense importance to the Iranian energy industry. Its terminals and structures lie in deep waters, capable of receiving large oil supertankers, making it a key hub for the transportation and distribution of hydrocarbons.
US officials have previously described Kharg as: The nexus for all Iranian oil supplies.
According to previous reports, there is a belief in the White House that taking control of the island would severely hit Iran's financial resources, especially those of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
Although Trump has previously stated that Kharg was “not high on the list” of his targets, interest in the island dates back decades. As early as 1988, long before he entered politics, he had spoken publicly about its strategic importance.
In an interview with The Guardian at the time, Trump said: "A bullet would go off at one of our men or ships and I would take a large number of targets on Kharg Island. I would go in and take it."
Recent statements have brought the strategic role of Kharg, an island considered the heart of Iran's energy exports and a highly important target in any escalation scenario in the region, back to the center of the debate.
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