Iran's Kharg Island has once again topped headlines after the Wall Street Journal revealed that US President Donald Trump, during escalating tensions with Iran, discussed military options that included sending ground forces to seize the island, a step aimed at delivering a direct blow to Iran's most important oil export hub.

Why Kharg? Kharg Island holds exceptional strategic importance as it is the main artery for Iranian oil exports, with between 80% and 90% of Iran's crude exports to global markets passing through its facilities, making any threat to it a direct pressure on Iran's economy and its most important source of income.

The island is located in the northern part of the Persian Gulf, about 25 kilometers off the Iranian coast in Bushehr province, and houses one of the largest oil infrastructures in the region, including giant storage tanks, berths for loading supertankers, as well as an airport, a military base, and logistical facilities serving crude export operations.

The maximum capacity of the island's loading facilities is about 7 million barrels per day, making it the largest Iranian oil export terminal since the 1960s, although actual current exports range between 1.3 and 1.6 million barrels per day under the sanctions imposed on Tehran.

Iran relies heavily on the island to maintain the flow of its oil exports, as the majority of shipments pass through its facilities before heading to foreign markets, primarily Asian markets.

China is the main destination for Iranian oil, as energy market estimates indicate that Beijing imports an average of between 1.2 and 1.5 million barrels per day of Iranian crude through direct and indirect channels, making any disruption to Kharg Island's operation impactful not only on Iran but also on Asian energy markets.

The Cost of Control: Analysts believe that seizing the island, if it happens, would not only deprive Iran of its oil revenues but also give Washington a strategic leverage over Tehran by crippling the country's ability to export crude without needing to target facilities scattered across Iran.

In contrast, energy experts warn that any major disruption to Kharg Island's operations could quickly affect global markets due to its pivotal role in Iranian oil supplies.

Estimates from international financial institutions, including Goldman Sachs, indicate that any widespread disruption to Iranian oil exports or energy infrastructure in the Gulf could push global oil prices above $100 per barrel, potentially reaching around $150 if the escalation extends to disrupting supplies through the Strait of Hormuz or if the military confrontation in the region widens.

Thus, Kharg Island is not just a small island in the Persian Gulf, but one of the most sensitive points on the global energy security map, as any military development concerning it could have repercussions beyond Iran, affecting oil markets and the global economy as a whole.