President Donald Trump announced Friday night that the United States had obliterated every military target on Iran's Kharg Island, a critical hub handling about 90 percent of the country's crude oil exports. In a post on Truth Social, Trump described the operation as "one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East," directed by him through U.S. Central Command.

The strikes targeted military sites on the five-mile-long island in the Persian Gulf, including missile storage facilities and areas used for mine-laying operations, according to U.S. officials. Oil infrastructure remained untouched, a decision Trump attributed to "reasons of decency." He warned that any further interference by Iran with shipping through the Strait of Hormuz would prompt reconsideration, potentially leading to attacks on economic assets.

Kharg Island serves as Iran's primary oil export terminal, processing the vast majority of its shipments and underpinning the regime's economy. The U.S. action came amid Iran's closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for one-fifth of global oil supplies, in response to nearly two weeks of U.S. and Israeli airstrikes. Brent crude settled at $103.14 per barrel Friday, up more than 40 percent since the war began, marking the highest level since 2022.

The conflict escalated around late February 2026, with U.S. and Israeli forces launching Operation Epic Fury against Iranian targets following heightened nuclear tensions and attacks on shipping. Iran retaliated by blockading the strait and launching missiles, leading to disruptions across the region. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth described Friday as the most intense day of the air campaign yet.

No immediate casualties were reported from the Kharg Island strikes. Overall war tolls include over 1,300 deaths in Iran, mostly civilians, and 13 U.S. service members killed, including six in a refueling plane crash in Iraq earlier Friday. The Pentagon is deploying an additional Marine Expeditionary Unit of about 2,500 personnel to the Middle East.

A senior Iranian official indicated Tehran might allow limited tanker passage through the strait if cargoes are traded in Chinese yuan. Trump stated U.S. Navy escorts for ships could begin soon. The strikes signal U.S. resolve to secure vital sea lanes while holding Iran's economic lifeline in check.