Trump warns US could strike Iran's Kharg Island oil pipelines
Trump warns US could strike Iran's Kharg Island oil pipelines
Trump says US forces could dismantle Kharg Island's oil pipelines, signaling a potential escalation as tensions rise over Iran's energy exports and the Strait of Hormuz.
President Donald Trump warned that the United States could strike Iran's Kharg Island oil pipelines, signaling a possible escalation in a conflict that has already seen attacks on the island. He claimed that while the last strikes targeted related infrastructure, the energy pipelines themselves could be hit in a matter of minutes if needed. He stressed that the restraint shown to avoid destroying critical oil facilities was deliberate, but warned it may not stay that way in the future. Kharg Island is Iran's main export terminal, handling roughly 90% of the country’s crude shipments to global markets. Located about 25 km off Iran’s southern coast in the Persian Gulf, the island connects major onshore and offshore fields to international buyers through pipelines, storage facilities and deep-water loading jetties designed for large supertankers. Iran’s oil shipments are a major revenue source, with reported net oil export revenues of about $53 billion in 2025. Trump asserted that the American military is aggressively dismantling Iran's defense industrial base and that its ability to rebuild missiles and drones is nearing zero. He also noted that U.S. forces had targeted Iranian naval assets involved in threatening shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.
