US-Iran war: Donald Trump reveals the US has ‘obliterated’ Iran’s oil export hub, Kharg Island

US President Donald Trump has said in a statement that the United States has “totally obliterated” Iran’s Kharg Island.

“Moments ago, at my direction, 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’s crown jewel, Kharg Island,” he said in a statement posted by The White House on X.

Iran has NO ability to defend anything that we want to attack — There is nothing they can do about it!

The strikes on Kharg Island targeted all of the military infrastructure on the island, a military official said.

US Air Force bombers struck missile storage sites, as well as sites that housed Iranian mines, the official said. He said the United States did not target the economic infrastructure on the island.

Kharg Island is one of Iran’s most strategic and critical energy outposts, situated deep into the Persian Gulf’s north, about 32 kilometres off the mainland’s coast.

About 90 per cent of Iran’s oil exports go through Kharg. The island has huge oil storage facilities, and pipelines from the island are connected by sea to some of Iran’s largest oil and gas fields.

Kharg Island is home to three main energy infrastructure sites belonging to the Iranian oil ministry, including Falat Iran Oil Co., which produces 500,000 barrels of crude oil per day and is considered the largest of the country’s four main oil-producing refineries.

The island also hosts Kharg Petrochemical Co., as well as a major facility for storing and shipping oil and liquefied natural gas. It plays a major role in Iran’s economy and oil revenues. Any disruption to the island’s infrastructure would also affect the global energy market.

Trump had said earlier this week that seizing Kharg Island’s fuel depot was not “high on the list” of priorities in his war on Iran.

In a Fox News Radio interview that aired Friday morning, he added that the island was “one of so many different things, and I can change my mind in seconds.”

It comes after US Defence Secretary, Pete Hegseth, declared “maximum” engagement in Iran.

“Our warfighters have maximum authorities granted personally by the president and yours truly,” Mr Hegseth said at a briefing four days after the war started.

“Our rules of engagement are bold, precise and designed to unleash American power, not shackle it.”

This and similar statements are now the backdrop to a body of evidence that the destruction of an Iranian elementary school during the opening hours of the war was likely caused by a US missile strike.

The preliminary finding of an ongoing military investigation has determined that the United States was responsible, The New York Times has reported.

“You don’t want to turn the entire population against the United States,” said Mark Hertling, a retired three-star Army general.

“If you are bombing indiscriminately — like may have happened on several occasions, to include the girls’ school — that would negate any opportunity to have a positive regime change.”

Pressed about the incident as the details have gradually come to light, Mr Hegseth has repeatedly responded by saying the matter is under investigation and stressing that the United States does not target civilians.

“We’re certainly investigating,” Mr Hegseth said on Saturday, for example, standing behind President Donald Trump on Air Force One.

“But the only — the only side that targets civilians is Iran.”

— with The New York Times