US strikes Iran’s ‘orphan pearl’

The ongoing conflict in the Middle East took a deadly turn when US forces carried out airstrikes on the strategic Kharg Island, known as the ‘nerve center’ of Iran’s oil.

The island’s military targets entered its 15th day of heavy bombing on Friday (March 14), putting the stability of the Persian Gulf region at grave risk. The tiny limestone island, measuring just 20 square kilometers, controls 90 percent of Iran’s total oil exports, a major source of the country’s economy and military power.

US President Donald Trump has called the island Iran’s ‘crown jewel’, but renowned Iranian writer Jalal Al-e-Ahmad called it the ‘orphan pearl’ of the Persian Gulf many years ago.

The island is home to huge storage tanks, loading terminals and a complex network of pipelines. It receives crude oil from Iran's three main offshore oil fields—Abozar, Foruzhan, and Dorud—and processes and exports about 950 million barrels of oil annually. According to energy experts, losing control of Kharg Island means the Iranian government's effectiveness is almost paralyzed.

President Trump said on social media that every military target on the island has been destroyed. However, he has decided not to destroy the island's main oil infrastructure or industries for strategic reasons.

Trump warned that if Iran or anyone else creates any kind of obstruction of shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, he will immediately reconsider this decision and destroy the oil infrastructure. Currently, the price of oil on the world market has reached $ 100 per barrel, which is having a major impact on the global economy.

There is extreme tension in the Middle East in response to the attack. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf had earlier warned that Iran would show no restraint if its islands were attacked and that Trump would be held responsible for the bloodshed of US troops.

On the other hand, the Pentagon has already deployed the warship 'USS Tripoli' with about 2,500 marines to the region. Firms like JP Morgan fear that the attack could lead to a devastating counterattack by Iran on the Strait of Hormuz or regional energy infrastructure.

Source: NDTV.