[Anchor]
Kharg Island in Iran drew global attention after a surprise U.S. airstrike.
We look at why this small coral island has become the focal point of the current conflict with Iran.
This is Kim Sookang.
[Reporter]
Kharg Island, a small coral outcrop in the Persian Gulf.
The island covers 22 km² (about 8.5 sq mi), roughly seven times the size of Yeouido, yet 90% of Iran’s crude oil exports pass through it.
A massive terminal on the island handles about 950 million barrels a year and can process up to 7 million barrels a day.
Deep surrounding waters allow 300,000-ton-class supertankers to dock directly — a geographical advantage that sends most of the island’s oil to Asian markets, notably China.
With oil exports accounting for roughly 40% of Iran’s government revenue, Kharg functions as the regime’s vault.
That is why former U.S. President Donald Trump called it the “crown jewel.”
Ironically, American oil firm Amoco built the island’s facilities in the 1960s.
Today the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps maintains watchtowers across Kharg and enforces strict security. The island is off-limits without authorization and is often called the “forbidden island.”
During the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s, Kharg was a primary target of heavy bombardment.
Most facilities were destroyed then, but Iran rebuilt them repeatedly, preserving a critical revenue stream for the regime.
Experts say that if Kharg ceases operations, roughly half of Iran’s oil output would be at risk and the government could face an immediate cash crunch.
They warn further that if the island’s oil infrastructure were completely destroyed, global oil prices could surge past $150 per barrel.
Kharg has emerged as a pivotal battleground: Washington seeks to squeeze Iran’s financial lifelines while trying to avoid triggering a global oil shock.
This is Kim Sookang for Yonhap News TV.
[News Review]
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Kim Sookang (kimsookang@yna.co.kr)
