US strike on key Iran oil hub would fit Trump's 'energy dominance doctrine,' says expert

Kharg Island, which handles the bulk of Iran’s crude exports — and was erstwhile floated by President Donald Trump arsenic a imaginable people — could spark broader determination instability and attacks connected vigor infrastructure if struck by the U.S., a starring vigor information adept has warned.

Reports bespeak the Trump medication is weighing options that could see a nonstop onslaught connected Kharg Island.

Discussing the implementation of boots connected the crushed amid Operation Epic Fury connected "The Claman Countdown," retired Army Brig. Gen. Mark Kimmitt besides told Liz Claman that striking Kharg could beryllium successful the "offing."

"I don't deliberation a important fig of boots connected the ground, different than the accidental of an battle connected Kharg Island, is successful the offing," helium said March 9.

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Kharg Island Oil Terminal brings Iranian lipid to the satellite marketplace with the lipid terminal being the world's largest unfastened lipid terminal, with 95% of Iran's crude lipid exports coming done it. ( Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images)

Trump’s involvement successful the land dates backmost to a 1988 interrogation successful which helium reportedly suggested targeting Kharg successful effect to Iranian aggression, according to reports.

"I’d beryllium harsh connected Iran. They’ve been beating america psychologically, making america look similar a clump of fools," Trump said. "One slug changeable astatine 1 of our men oregon ships, and I’d bash a fig connected Kharg Island. I’d spell successful and instrumentality it."

Dr. Sara Vakhshouri, a planetary vigor analyst, said striking Kharg aligns squarely with Washington’s "energy dominance" doctrine and spoke arsenic U.S. and Israeli subject enactment successful Iran rattles vigor markets and disrupts lipid flows done the Strait of Hormuz.

"Kharg presently acts arsenic a strategical restraint constituent successful the conflict," Vakhshouri, laminitis and president of SVB Energy International, told Fox News Digital.

"Interrupting Iran’s main export terminal would apt trigger a large lipid terms spike, marketplace instability, and determination retaliation against vigor infrastructure."

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Reports bespeak President Donald Trump medication considers nonstop onslaught connected Iran's Kharg Island, which handles 90% of Iranian lipid exports adjacent Strait of Hormuz. (Fatemeh Bahrami/Anadolu Agency/Getty Image)

Kharg’s value is not lone tactical but strategic, she added, arguing that it fits squarely wrong Trump’s long-touted doctrine.

The policy, cardinal to Trump’s archetypal term, prioritized maximizing U.S. lipid and state production, expanding exports, and leveraging U.S. vigor spot arsenic a geopolitical tool.

"But erstwhile we speech astir Kharg, the astir important origin is that it fits wrong the U.S. vigor dominance concept," Vakhshouri said, suggesting that holding the land successful reserve arsenic a unit constituent — alternatively than instantly striking it — whitethorn beryllium a much strategical option.

Kharg sits successful the bluish Persian Gulf, astir 15 miles disconnected Iran’s mainland. Tankers leaving the terminal walk done the Strait of Hormuz, the constrictive chokepoint that handles astir one-fifth of planetary lipid trade.

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President Donald Trump gestures arsenic helium boards Air Force One earlier departing Palm Beach International Airport successful West Palm Beach, Florida, connected March 1, 2026. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)

Around 90% to 95% of Iran’s crude and petroleum exports walk done Kharg, making it the regime’s superior lipid gross hub.

"Roughly 15 to 20 cardinal barrels whitethorn beryllium successful storage, with astir 1.5 to 3 cardinal barrels per time exported done the terminal during the sanctions, with export capableness up to 5 cardinal barrels per day," Vakhshouri said.

"If the export capableness from Kharg were lost, this restraint could diminish, shifting the hazard toward further strikes connected determination vigor facilities and, much importantly, prolonged disruption of lipid flows and tanker postulation done the Strait of Hormuz," she warned.

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"Putting a terms ceiling connected specified a script would beryllium mostly connected Iran’s retaliatory actions," she added.

"The definite outcome, however, would beryllium prolonged volatility and uncertainty successful the market, driven by fears of further retaliation oregon an extended rhythm of disruption," Vakhshouri said.

Fox News Digital has reached retired to the White House for comment.