Kharg Island, a vital Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, holds absolute immunity due to Iran’s offensive capabilities. Any attack on its oil facilities would trigger a catastrophic global energy crisis, far surpassing the consequences of a direct military confrontation.
Kharg Island, a vital Iranian oil export hub in the Persian Gulf, holds absolute immunity due to Iran’s offensive capabilities. Any attack on its oil facilities would trigger a catastrophic global energy crisis, far surpassing the consequences of a direct military confrontation.
The article argues that while targeting Kharg might seem feasible, such an act would be a massive gamble for any aggressor. Iran possesses the ability to retaliate against numerous, highly vulnerable oil terminals across the Persian Gulf, including:
- Saudi Arabia: Ras Tanura (world’s largest oil loading port) and Ras Ju’aymah.
- UAE: Fujairah (major bunkering hub outside the Strait of Hormuz) and Jebel Ali.
- Kuwait: Mina Al-Ahmadi.
- Bahrain: Sitra (logistical support for US military).
- Qatar: Ras Laffan (world’s largest LNG export facility).
Deterrence & Disaster: The Cost of Attacking Iran’s Oil Infrastructure
Disrupting any of these would cause irreparable damage to global energy supply. Such a scenario would devastate the oil-dependent economies of Arab States of the Persian Gulf , potentially ending their petrodollar-driven development. For the U.S., it would undermine a crucial pillar of its hegemony – the stability and petrodollar influence of these allies.
Therefore, the U.S. is unlikely to risk an attack on Iranian oil facilities, as it would be a lose-lose scenario for all parties involved, creating an unprecedented global economic crisis. Iran’s capacity for retaliation ensures its oil infrastructure maintains absolute immunity, with any limited actions from adversaries serving as mere symbolic threats that Iran is prepared to counter.
This policy note is written by Amirhossein Pakdast, researcher at Strategic the Oil and Gas Industry Chain Think Tank (Petropal) in 2026.
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