President Trump announces US strikes on Iranian island of Chark, destroying military targets while sparing oil infrastructure.
US Strikes on Chark Island
President Donald Trump announced overnight from Friday to Saturday Polish time that at his order, US Central Command conducted “one of the strongest bombardments in the history of the Middle East.” US forces attacked Iran’s Kharg Island.
“Completely destroyed every military target on Iran’s crown pearl, the island of Kharg” – Trump wrote on his social media platform Truth Social. The island is a key Iranian oil export hub. He stated that he did not “annihilate” the oil infrastructure on the island “for reasons of decency.”
Trump’s Statements and Threats
“However, if Iran or anyone else does anything to hinder the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately revise this decision” – announced the American president.
“Iran has no ability to defend what we want to attack. They can do nothing about it!” – continued the US president. “The Iranian military and all others involved in this terrorist regime should act wisely and lay down their arms to save what remains of their country, and there isn’t much left! Thank you for your attention” – added Trump.
Strategic Importance of Kharg
Both Trump and Iranian sources claim that oil facilities were not attacked, however Iranian media reported at least 15 loud explosions heard in the region – indicates Al Jazeera.
Media had previously speculated that the US might attack Kharg Island, located in the north of the Persian Gulf. On Kharg, described as an island-terminal, 95% of Iranian oil intended for export by tankers is transshipped – indicates “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung”. Plans to occupy it were considered by Americans even during Jimmy Carter’s presidency, at the end of the 1970s.
Market and Regional Reactions
As Reuters notes, markets were closely watching for any signs that US attacks had damaged the network of pipelines, terminals and storage tanks on the island. “Even minor disruptions could further tighten global supply, increasing pressure on an already unstable market” – notes the news agency.
“I am very concerned that this will raise the temperature [of the conflict – ed.], and Iran has less to lose and seems to be in a situation where escalation is likely. Iran, backed against the wall, is incredibly emboldened to act” – said in an interview with Reuters Patrick De Haan, an analyst at the American company tracking fuel prices GasBuddy.
Iranian Response and Warnings
Iranian armed forces informed on Saturday that any attack on Iranian oil and energy infrastructure will lead to attacks on energy infrastructure belonging to oil companies cooperating with the US in the region, reported Iranian media which cites Reuters.
In another post on his social media, Donald Trump claimed that “media spreading fake news hate to report how well the United States military did (in the operation – ed.) against Iran, which is completely defeated and wants to make a deal.” “But not a deal that I would be willing to accept!” – he added.
In another post, Trump assessed that “Iran had plans to take control of the entire Middle East and completely destroy Israel”, but “these plans are now dead.”
Shortly before publishing his first post, Trump in a conversation with journalists conveyed that on that day American forces had conducted strong strikes on Iran. – The situation in Iran is very good. There were many strikes, many important victories today. (…) We have good control – he said.
Asked how long the war against Iran, started by the USA and Israel on February 28, would last, he replied: – As long as needed. He simultaneously noted that from a military point of view Americans are “ahead of schedule”. – This will happen soon, very soon – he answered when asked when American forces would start escorting tankers through the strait blocked by Iran.