Iran: 'Attack oil facilities cooperating with the U.S.'…Warns of retaliation after Kharg Island airstrikes

After the United States carried out airstrikes on Kharg Island—home to Iran’s key crude export facilities—Iran immediately issued a warning of retaliation.

According to Reuters, the Iranian military said on the 14th (local time), via domestic media, that if the country’s oil and energy infrastructure is hit, it will attack the energy infrastructure of oil companies cooperating with the U.S. in the Middle East. While oil facilities in Gulf producers close to Iran are generally operated by state-owned firms, they have maintained long-standing strategic cooperation with the U.S. government and companies, raising expectations of broader fallout.

Earlier in the day, President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that, on his orders, U.S. Central Command carried out “one of the most powerful bombings in Middle East history,” and that all military targets on Kharg Island were destroyed. However, he drew a line by saying oil infrastructure was not touched, warning that “if Iran or anyone interferes with the free and safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz, we will immediately reconsider this decision.”

Kharg Island is a strategic stronghold that serves as a key terminal handling about 90% of Iran’s total crude exports and functions as a major source of wartime funding. The airstrikes are seen as a military pressure move aimed at preventing Iran from blocking the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world’s crude oil passes.

Hong Min-seong, Hankyung.com reporter mshong@hankyung.com