Trump says US bombed Iran’s strategic Kharg Island in major raid

ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - US President Donald Trump said Saturday that American forces carried out a major bombing raid on Iran’s Kharg Island, claiming the strike destroyed “every military target” on the strategic island. He also threatens further strikes if Iran continues to disrupt shipping in the Strait of Hormuz. 

In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said the operation was carried out under his direction by United States Central Command.

“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,” Trump wrote.

He said the United States deliberately avoided striking the island’s oil infrastructure but warned that Washington could reconsider that decision if Iran threatens shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

“Our weapons are the most powerful and sophisticated that the world has ever known but, for reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the oil infrastructure on the island,” Trump wrote, adding that any interference with “the free and safe passage of ships through the Strait of Hormuz” would prompt a change in that decision.

The United States and Israel launched an aerial offensive against Iran on February 28, killing numerous commanders and key figures, including Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was later replaced by his son, Mojtaba Khamenei. As part of its response to the war, Iran has effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, widely seen as a global chokepoint through which about 20 percent of the world’s oil supply passes.

“The Fake News Media hates to report how well the United States Military has done against Iran, which is totally defeated and wants a deal – but not a deal that I would accept,” Trump wrote in another post.

He further asserted that Iran is incapable of defending against US attacks and repeated his long-standing stance that Iran will never obtain nuclear weapons.

Kharg Island is located in the northern Persian Gulf and serves as Iran’s main oil export terminal, making it one of the most strategically important energy facilities in the country.

A large share of Iran’s crude exports pass through Kharg Island, where massive storage tanks and loading terminals transfer oil to tankers heading to global markets. Because of this role, the island is often described as the backbone of Iran’s oil economy.

The facility has long been considered a sensitive strategic target. During the Iran–Iraq War in the eighties, Kharg Island was repeatedly attacked by Iraqi forces in an attempt to cripple Iran’s oil exports.

Any major disruption to operations on the island could significantly affect Iran’s ability to export oil and generate revenue, particularly during periods of heightened regional tensions.