HOA KỲ ĐANG CHUẨN BỊ ĐÁNH CHIẾM ĐẢO KHARG CỦA IRAN- MỘT CẢNG DẦU TẬP TRUNG 95% DẦU XUẤT CẢNG TẠI ĐÂY./-Mt68

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* Vị trí Hải Cảng Kharg - 95% dầu Iran xuất cảng qua cảng nầy.

Where is Kharg Island and what is it used for?

Kharg Island is about 20 square kilometres in size and sits in the Persian Gulf, 25 kilometres from the Iranian mainland.

It is Iran's largest export terminal for oil — about 90 per cent of the country's oil passes through the hub.

Oil facilities on Kharg Island, as seen in 2016. (Getty Images: Morteza Nikoubazl/NurPhoto)

Oil pipes leading downhill toward the Kharg Island jetty, circa 1971. (AP Photo: Horst Faas)

Its long jetties provide supertankers access to deep water, which mainland ports do not.

Iran's largest producing fields send oil to Kharg Island via pipeline.

ABC journalist Emily Clark did a deep dive into the island's history, which you can read more about here.

South of the island is the Strait of Hormuz — the narrow waterway that connects Middle Eastern oil producers to the rest of the world.

Iran has targeted ships in the strait, effectively strangling one fifth of the world's oil supply.

Iran's new supreme leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei said the Strait of Hormuz should remain closed as a tool of pressure.

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An aerial view of the tightly restricted island.

What happened?

This morning Mr Trump declared that the US had destroyed all of Iran's military defences on Kharg Island, but did not attack any oil infrastructure.

He made the announcement on Truth Social, saying the US had "executed one of the most powerful bombing raids in the History of the Middle East, and totally obliterated every MILITARY target in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island".

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Donald Trump posted a video to social media that appears to show strikes on Kharg Island.

Australian National University Middle East analyst Amin Saikal told ABC News Channel that the impact of the strikes was largely economic.

"In terms of the military significance the island is not that crucial to the operations of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard," Mr Saikal said.

"It is a lifeline to the economic life for Iran and major source of revenue for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard."

Iran war live updates: For the latest news on the Middle East crisis, read our blog.

Could the US attack oil infrastructure?

Mr Trump has threatened to target the oil infrastructure on the island if Iran disrupts shipping in the Strait of Hormuz.

"For reasons of decency, I have chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the Island," Mr Trump wrote on Truth Social.

"However, should Iran, or anyone else, do anything to interfere with the Free and Safe Passage of Ships through the Strait of Hormuz, I will immediately reconsider this decision."

More than 1,000 cargo ships have been held up in the strait during the war.

Other oil refineries, depots and tankers have been key targets, which has driven up oil prices internationally.

The map below details infrastructure in the Gulf that has already been struck.

Mixed messaging from Trump

In an interview recorded on Thursday night with Fox News host Brian Kilmeade, Mr Trump baulked when asked directly about his plans regarding the island.

"Are you thinking about taking Kharg Island, where 90 per cent of the Iranian oil goes through?" Kilmeade asked.

The question appeared to hit a nerve and Mr Trump proceeded to rebuke the Fox News host.

Brian Kilmeade seemed to raise Donald Trump's ire when he questioned him about Kharg Island. (YouTube: Fox News)

"I can't answer a question like that and you shouldn't even be asking it," Mr Trump said.

He said Kharg Island was "not high on the list, but it's one of so many different things".

"I can change my mind in seconds,"

Mr Trump said.

A day later the US launched its attack on the island's military defences.

The overwhelming majority of Iranian oil is exported from Kharg Island. (Reuters: Planet Labs PBC)

Could the US occupy the island?

On Monday Mr Trump told CBS News: "I think the war is very complete, pretty much."

But on Saturday, in another sign of potential escalation, reports are emerging that at least 2,500 marines and one amphibious warship are being relocated from deployment in Japan.

Amphibious assault ships are designed to deploy ground troops into enemy territory.

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Background

How will it affect petrol prices?

Petrol is made from refined oil and the Middle East is a major supplier. Air strikes have targeted oil facilities in multiple countries, stopping work at those sites. Iran has targeted the Strait of Hormuz virtually stopping shipping through the vital route and blocking oil supply to the world. This disruption has pushed up the price of oil which in turn has pushed up the petrol price./-