President Trump avoids calling Iran conflict a ‘war’
President Trump explained why he refuses to call the Iran conflict a “war,” saying it would require approval from Congress.
Kharg Island in the Persian Gulf is only a few miles long, but its strategic importance has drawn much attention as the US and Israel’s war against Iran approaches one month.
The island is a major hub for Iran’s oil exports and has been the target of U.S. military attacks in the past. Recent media reports suggest it may be targeted again.
Axios and CNN reported last week, citing anonymous sources, that President Donald Trump is considering using the U.S. military to invade and occupy the island. Axios reports that the regime’s plan also includes a military blockade of the land area through which the bulk of Iran’s oil exports pass.
Thousands of Marines are headed to the Middle East, but the Pentagon has not provided details about where they are headed. The conflict continues despite talk of a cease-fire and President Trump’s new 15-point plan to end the war launched by the United States and Israel on February 28. Iran maintains a de facto blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, halting oil shipments in one of the world’s most important trade routes and causing global economic turmoil.
Thousands of people, including 13 U.S. soldiers, have been killed in attacks in multiple countries in the Gulf and Middle East.
Here’s what you need to know about Iran’s Kharg Island.
What is Kharg Island?
Kharg Island is located approximately 15 nautical miles off the coast of Iran in the Persian Gulf. About 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports are processed on this small piece of land.
Iran produces more than 3 million barrels of oil per day, making it one of the top 10 oil producing countries in the world.
Pipelines from some of Iran’s biggest oil fields also connect to Kharg Island, where millions of barrels of oil are stored.
Kharg Island has been targeted in the past
U.S. Central Command announced on March 14 that it had attacked more than 90 Iranian military targets on the island. The U.S. military said the U.S. strike maintained the island’s oil infrastructure.
The command posted a video of a “massive precision attack” showing bombing of air defense facilities, a naval base, an airport control tower and a helicopter hangar. Iranian media reported that there were more than 15 explosions on the island.
In a recent interview, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent did not rule out future operations targeting this small outcrop, building on President Trump’s threats to target Iran’s oil and energy infrastructure. Appearing on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” on March 22, Bessent said, “What could happen on Kharg Island? We’ll see.”
Joe Kent, the former director of the US National Counterterrorism Center who resigned on March 17 in protest of the war, denounced the idea of a US invasion of the island as “disastrous” in a recent interview with The Washington Post.
According to Reuters, Iran’s National Defense Council warned on March 23 that if the United States were to blockade Khalgh Island, it could deploy various types of landmines.
Contributor: Carissa Wadick, USA TODAY.
Kathryn Palmer is USA TODAY’s political reporter. She can be reached at the following address: kapalmer@usatoday.com And to X@Kathryn Purml. Sign up for her daily politics newsletter here.
