After the United States bombed Kharg Island, which houses Iran's key crude oil export facilities, Iran warned of retaliation.
According to a Reuters report on the 14th (local time), Iran's military said through domestic media that if its oil and energy infrastructure is hit, it will strike energy infrastructure owned by oil corporations cooperating with the United States in the Middle East. The oil facilities of Gulf oil-producing countries, which are geographically close to Iran, are generally operated by state-run corporations and maintain long-standing strategic partnerships with the U.S. government and corporations.
Iran's warning came shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump said he had destroyed military targets on Kharg Island, Iran's crude oil hub.
Trump said on Truth Social that "at my direction, U.S. Central Command carried out one of the most powerful bombings in Middle East history." He added that while all of Iran's military assets on Kharg Island were destroyed, there were no strikes on oil infrastructure.
Kharg Island is a key export terminal that handles 90% of Iran's total crude oil exports. It is a strategic point that serves as a funding lifeline for Iran's war effort.
The U.S. bombing of military facilities on Kharg Island is military pressure aimed at thwarting Iran's attempt to blockade the Strait of Hormuz, through which 20% of the world's crude oil passes.