Iran: Kharg Island operations normal, oil exports flowing despite war

2026-03-17 - 09:32

Iran's critical Kharg Island oil terminal is operating normally with exports continuing uninterrupted despite weeks of US-Israeli attacks, a parliamentary spokesman said Tuesday, sending a defiant message to adversaries while confirming the resilience of the country's petroleum industry. Oil hub remains fully operational "Residents' lives on Kharg Island are proceeding as usual. Oil industry workers are continuing their activities with high morale, and through round-the-clock efforts, no disruption has occurred in oil exports," the spokesperson for parliament's Energy Committee told Iranian media. The strategic island, through which the vast majority of Iran's crude oil is exported, has been widely speculated as a potential target for US military action given its critical role in the Iranian economy. Warnings to potential attackers The official issued a stark warning to any nation considering military action against the vital facility. "If the enemies cast a covetous eye on Kharg Island, they should know that a humiliation more severe than what occurred in the Strait of Hormuz awaits them, and the island will become a graveyard for aggressors," the spokesperson said. The reference to the Strait of Hormuz underscores Iran's ability to disrupt global energy supplies, with Tehran having effectively closed the strategic waterway to enemy shipping since early March. Strait remains closed to adversaries Reaffirming Tehran's position, the spokesperson declared that "the ships of our enemies are not allowed to pass through the Strait of Hormuz." The statement comes as the US-Israeli campaign against Iran enters its third week, having killed approximately 1,300 people including a former Iranian leader. Iran has responded with missile and drone strikes targeting American military assets across the region, while maintaining its blockade of the strait through which one-fifth of the world's oil normally passes.