Kharg and the others "treasure islands" Iranian

In the night theUnited Stateshave crossed another red line in the conflict with theIranhitting 90 military targets onKharg Islandheart ofenergy export di Teheran. According to some analysts, in addition to Kharg, there are othersstrategic islandsfor control overStrait of Hormuzwhich could end up in the sights of the Americans: in particularAbu Musaoltre a I laugh e Hormuz Island. Moreover, on March 7, American forces bombed the island of Kish, an Iranian tourist paradise inPersian Gulf.

UndoubtedlyKhargit is the most vital one for theAyatollah regime. Located north ofStrait of Hormuzis a strip of arid and bushy land about the size of Brescia. It houses the largestcrude oil export terminalof Iran, managing about the90% of the country’s exportsaccording to a recent report by American bank JP Morgan. The small island experienced rapid development during theIranian oil boomof the 1960s and 1970s, as much of the mainland coast, 24 km away, is too shallow to accommodate thesuperpetroliere. Precisely from Kharg, Tehran exports theoil destined largely for China. Le infrastructure of the island sono considerate vital to the country’s economy.

The strategic importance of Kharg in the Iran-Iraq war

Already during theIran-Iraq war(1980-1988), a CIA report emphasized that the continued operation of theKharg plantsit was “essential to theeconomic prosperity of Iran“. L’strategic importanceremains intact even today: according to analyzes cited by Reuters, iGuardsthey would control about half of thethe country’s oil revenues.

Trump’s threats and the impact on oil prices

Any damage to yoursoil infrastructurecould cause a sharp increase inoil prices e tensions with Chinawhich is why last night theUsathey did not hit them, as confirmed by the presidentDonald Trump. However, the tenant of theWhite Househas threatened to do so if Iran continues to impede thefree passage of ships attraverso lo Strait of Hormuz.

Kharg: Economic resource and key military location

L’Kharg Islandit’s not just oneeconomic resourcebut it occupies an importantmilitary position. Access to the island is strictly limited and monitored by theIslamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRCG). La Marinamaintains a presence on the island, including the 112th Zolfaghar Surface Combatant Brigade, a unit that operates withfast attack patrol boats progettate per la asymmetric naval warfare nel Persian Gulf. These boats are generally equipped withanti-ship missilesrockets andnaval mineswhich allow them to threatenmerchant or military shipslarger ones operating nearby.

Military infrastructure and surveillance in the Persian Gulf

Le military infrastructurearound the island includecoastal missile launchers, system radar, surveillance networks e drone basesused to monitoractivities in the northern Persian Gulf.

The strategic islands of the Strait of Hormuz

La strategic structure of the Strait of Hormuzit is not just the water that passes through him but hisislands: in addition to that ofKhargare of crucial importance for themonitoring global oil routes quelle di I laugh, Abu Musa e l’omonima Hormuz Island. They are not peripheral islands of thePersian Gulf ma observation points dove Teheran ha costruito advanced infrastructure per il control of one of the most vital energy arteries on the planet. In fact, inmaritime geopoliticswhoever controls the islands controls the passages.

Qeshm: the largest island and control of the passage

I laughla largest island in the Persian Gulfis located along the southern coast of Iran and strategically overlooks theStrait of Hormuzto observe and monitor the entry and exit of ships from the Gulf. For this position, which allows theIranto control the northern side of the passage,Teheranhas strengthened thedefensive installationson site, investing inport infrastructure e system radar.

Abu Musa: a contested geopolitical vantage point

In a more sensitive point, almost in the center ofnavigation routes of oil tankersthat pass throughPersian Gulfthere is theAbu Musa Island. Its small territory represents one of themore direct observation pointsover the entire area. For this reason, over time it has acquired ageopolitical weightever greater. They know it wellIranwhich has controlled it militarily since 1971, and theUnited Arab Emirates che accusa Teheran di “illegal occupation“.

Hormuz Island: history and strategic importance

The fourth island,Hormuz Islandis the one that gave its name to the strait. Located at the entrance to thePersian Gulfis a small rocky land that has had a for centuriescentral role in trade routes tra Middle East e Indian Ocean. The first to understandstrategic importance furono i Portuguesewho built one in the 16th centuryfortress on the island.