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News: U.S.A forces struck military targets on Kharg Island, warning its oil infrastructure could be targeted if Iran disrupts regional shipping.
About Kharg Island
- Location: Kharg Island is a continental island of Iran located in the Persian Gulf.
- The island is 25 km off the coast of Iran and 483 km northwest of the Strait of Hormuz.
- Area: Its area is 25 sq.km. Its length is 8 km and its width is 4.5 km.
- Highest Point: Its highest point is Mount Didehban which stands at 87 meters above sea level.
- Geography: This rocky limestone island is unique because it is one of the few islands in the Persian Gulf with freshwater which has collected within the porous limestone.
- Strategic importance: It is Iran’s most important oil export terminal and one of the most strategically significant energy chokepoints globally.
- The island contains Iran’s main crude oil export infrastructure, including the Sea Island terminal, a large offshore T-jetty designed to load Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs).
- Most Iranian crude oil exports are loaded at this terminal before being transported through the Strait of Hormuz to reach global shipping routes and international markets.
- The terminal accounts for around 90% of the Iran’s crude exports and has a loading capacity of roughly 7 million barrels per day.
