In the northern Persian Gulf, there is a small island, only about 20 square kilometers, which is considered the most sensitive point of the Iranian economy. Kharg Island is the most important oil export terminal for the Iranian regime, from where about 7 million barrels of oil pass every day to international markets, mainly to Asia and China.
According to experts, without this terminal, the Iranian economy would face a severe blow. However, even though the war between Iran, the US and Israel has entered its most intense days, Kharg Island has not been hit by military attacks so far.
Analysts say Washington is avoiding such an attack for several reasons. First, the United States wants to preserve Iran's energy infrastructure for the post-war period. Second, a strike on Kharg could worsen relations with China, one of the main buyers of Iranian oil. Another reason is the fear that Iran would retaliate by attacking the energy facilities of Arab allies of the United States, such as Saudi Arabia or Qatar.
For now, Kharg is considered a “red line” for Washington, but experts warn that the situation could change if the conflict escalates. If Iran were to directly strike American targets or block oil traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, then this island could become one of the main targets of the war.
Kharg's importance is also linked to the fact that Iran's coast is shallow and does not allow large oil tankers to anchor. For this reason, oil is transported via underwater pipelines to this island, where it is then loaded onto large ships for export. This makes Kharg a vital point for the Iranian economy, but also its greatest strategic weakness.
