Report: Trump Weighs Strike on Island Key to Iran's Economy

US President Donald Trump is weighing the possibility of striking oil infrastructure and military facilities on Iran's Kharg Island, in an effort to increase pressure on the regime in Tehran and bring about a change in its position. That was the report this morning (Monday) on the Emirati website “Iram News,” citing American diplomatic sources close to senior officials in the White House.

According to the report, Trump is holding consultations with his advisers at the Defense Department and the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) to examine the possible consequences of striking the central hub of Iranian oil exports. The discussions are taking place ahead of the US midterm elections, expected to be held on November 3, as the administration seeks to obtain concessions from Tehran before that date.

At the center of the consultations is the question of whether damaging Iran's vital energy infrastructure could change the calculations of the Iranian leadership. According to the sources, Washington hopes that economic and military pressure will lead Tehran to abandon the preconditions it has set and to meet American demands, mainly regarding the nuclear program and the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.

Among the scenarios being examined are targeted strikes on oil storage tanks, pipelines and loading facilities on Kharg Island. Alongside this, there is consideration of striking military facilities located on the island itself or at additional sites.

The island's strategic importance stems from its status as the main center for crude oil exports from Iran. About 90% of Iranian oil exports pass through its facilities, and storage capacity there is estimated at some 30 million barrels.

One of the American diplomats quoted in the report noted that Trump is inclined to examine escalation options that could affect the Iranian regime both economically and militarily.