Trump Calls Kharg Island Iran’s ‘Crown Jewel’: Here's Why It Matters In the War

A small island in the Persian Gulf has suddenly become one of the most talked-about places in the ongoing Middle East conflict.

Donald Trump recently called Kharg Island Iran’s “crown jewel”, highlighting its huge strategic importance in the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States.

Located about 25 km off Iran’s coast in Bushehr province, Kharg Island covers just 20 square kilometres.

Despite its small size, the island plays a critical role in Iran’s economy because it serves as the main export terminal for the country’s oil.

Experts estimate that up to 90% of Iran’s oil exports pass through Kharg Island.

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Oil from major fields such as Ahvaz, Marun, Gachsaran, Aboozar, Forouzan and Dorood is transported through pipelines to the island, where it is stored in massive tanks and loaded onto tankers heading to global markets.

Because of its deep surrounding waters, Kharg can accommodate large supertankers, something that much of Iran’s shallow coastline cannot support. This makes the island one of the most valuable pieces of energy infrastructure in the region.

During the current conflict, Kharg Island has become a potential strategic target. Analysts say that if the island’s oil terminals are severely damaged or captured, Iran’s ability to export oil, and therefore finance its government and military, could be seriously disrupted.

Recent reports indicate that the U.S. military struck certain installations on the island, while Washington warned it could target oil infrastructure if shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz are threatened.

Nearly 20% of the world’s oil supply normally passes through this narrow waterway.

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Kharg Island has been an important trading and cultural site for centuries. Historical records show that merchants used it as a trading post between India and the Middle East as early as the medieval period.

The island also contains several archaeological sites, including a Christian monastery dating back to the 7th century, Rock-cut tombs from the Seleucid and Parthian eras, a rare Achaemenid cuneiform inscription from 550–330 BCE and remains of a Dutch fort built in the 18th century.

The modern oil terminal on the island was developed in the 1960s during the reign of the Shah of Iran, partly with assistance from the American oil company Amoco.

Because so much of Iran’s oil exports pass through Kharg Island, any major disruption there could impact global energy markets and push oil prices higher.