Fars News Agency: No damage to the oil infrastructure on Iran's Kharg Island

Kharg Island, the critical hub through which approximately 90% of Iran's oil exports flow, remains undamaged despite ongoing US-Israel military operations in the region, according to Fars News Agency. The island's infrastructure, which handles 1.3–1.6 million barrels of crude daily under normal conditions and up to 3 million barrels during recent tensions, has not been targeted, raising questions about strategic calculations by conflicting parties.

Experts highlight the island's pivotal role in global energy markets. Neil Quilliam of Chatham House warned that an attack could push oil prices toward $150 per barrel, exacerbating existing volatility driven by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz to tanker traffic. With 18 million barrels of oil stored on the island as a buffer, any disruption could have prolonged effects on supply chains.

While some analysts, including former Pentagon adviser Michael Rubin, argue that seizing or damaging Kharg could cripple Iran's economy by cutting its export revenue, others caution against the risks of market instability and unintended consequences. A US or Israeli occupation of the island would require sustained military operations and could provoke Iranian retaliation against Gulf energy infrastructure, according to Gulf analyst Yesar Al-Maleki.

The decision to spare Kharg appears rooted in efforts to avoid a full-scale energy crisis. Despite discussions of potential strikes or seizures, neither the US nor Israel has acted, with Pentagon Secretary Pete Hegseth acknowledging the possibility of ground operations but no large troop deployments in the region. The island's symbolic and economic significance—established by a US oil company during the 1979 revolution—further complicates direct action, as analysts note it could galvanize nationalist sentiment in Iran.

For now, Kharg remains a focal point of geopolitical and economic tension, with its untouched status reflecting a delicate balance between strategic objectives and global market stability.