The United States is considering striking oil infrastructure on Iran’s Kharg Island, according to Ambassador to the United Nations Mike Waltz, following its attacks on the island’s military targets.
Kharg Island, a major oil export hub, represents roughly 90% of Iran’s crude exports. The U.S. struck military targets on the island on Friday, though President Donald Trump said it would only attack oil infrastructure if Iran continued blocking the Strait of Hormuz.
“President Trump is not going to take any options off the table,” Waltz said in a CNN interview when asked about potential strikes on Kharg Island’s oil facilities. “I would certainly think he would maintain that optionality if he wants to take down their energy infrastructure.”
Trump also told NBC News over the weekend that the U.S. may strike Kharg Island “a few more times just for fun”. He claimed that U.S. strikes had “totally decimated” the island apart from its oil infrastructure.
The U.S.’ discussions with other countries on possibly escorting tankers through the Strait of Hormuz remain ongoing, Waltz said.
Trump had called for countries including the United Kingdom, China, France, and Japan to begin sending ships to the strait for escort missions in a social media post, though none of these nations have yet committed to doing so.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said last week that escort missions would start once they were “militarily possible”. The Navy has reportedly been refusing requests for escorts from the shipping industry due to safety issues.
The Strait’s closure has caused a major spike in oil prices. Brent crude was trading 2.2% higher at US$105.40 per barrel as of 10 am AEDT.
